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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL IN SEARCH OF NEW CRIME-FIGHTING TECHNIQUES It is both shocking and disturbing to know that almost every day someone is being killed or robbed at gunpoint in the country. Crime is an unwelcome and unnecessary evil to society and it is time for the government to aggressively address such lawlessness, which continues to essentially hold the nation hostage. So while the recent announcement by the Minister of Public Security to grant a gun amnesty, it will not likely be enough to lessen criminality. The government has stated that the granting of amnesty is one of many strategies that will be employed to fight crime and reduce the high level of violence in the country. But could the voluntary handing over of illegal weapons stem this crime wave? Will it work? Crime fighting is a difficult task and there is not a single strategy or plan that can be utilized to reduce it. It did not start overnight and it will not end suddenly, but the least the people expect is for the government to act swiftly to reduce it and protect them. With that said, it is the responsibility of the government to constantly (every day if possible), inform the public about its strategies/plans to reduce crime and halt the flow of illegal weapons. It would be a lame excuse for the government to say it has only been in office for three months and need more time. The criminals certainly flourish where there is uncertainty. The strategies devised at a recent high level meeting to assess and find solutions to the alarming crime rate seem not to be working because murders and armed and aggravated robberies at residences and businesses have increased and there appears to be no end in sight. The situation is dismal and the powers that be should give this issue the serious attention it deserves. Lives are at stake! The fight against crime does not begin with arrest and conviction but with prevention, and there are too many factors involved for it to be solved by the Police alone. For one reason, as the law enforcement institution, the Guyana Police Force has exposed its weakness in the many unsolved murders and armed robberies. For another, the SWAT Unit and the U.S. DEA by themselves cannot solve crime which is now part of the nation’s culture. For a third reason, studies have shown that violent criminal attitudes are the result of a weakened social fabric in the home, depressed communities, high unemployment among youths, the widening poverty gap between the ‘haves’ and the envied ‘have-nots’ and unprofessional lawmen. Truth be told, there are too many guns in the hands of reckless youths and gang members who have no regard for life. It is the responsibility of everyone to protect each other since we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Every citizen must take a stand against crime to protect not only their lives, but those of their families, friends and neighbours. They cannot encourage or harbour the criminals, or allow the hoodlums to wreak havoc on the country and desecrate their communities. And while it is the hope of many that the 14 percent hike in crime will rise no further; it can only decline when rocksolid crime fighting techniques are put in place by the government, which should include the use of the army, as was the case during the infamous 2002-2006 crime wave period. That is good governance. With crime on the rise, it is crucial for the Minister of Public Security and by extension the relatively new government to craft new and better crime- fighting methods and techniques to curb this scourge. Time is running, the people are unhappy, and the fear of being robbed or murdered continues to affect the nation’s psyche.
Kaieteur News
Friday August 28, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Guyana not ready for commercialization of marijuana DEAR EDITOR, Clairmont Lye, former project director of the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) in a letter a few weeks ago (“We should be growing hemp on an industrial scale”, July 7) called for the legalization of marijuana. Citing several countries where it has been legalized, as well as our strategic geographical location, favorable soil pH level, and potential financial gains, Lye further argued that Guyana should cultivate large scale production to take advantage of the global demand for marijuana. While it is true that several countries (like Jamaica,, Ecuador and US) have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana for medicinal use, it would be a mistake for Guyana to enter the “marijuana trade” at this time for a number of reasons: many countries still oppose its globalization, marijuana has many documented negative effects, it is considered a “gateway” to more serious drugs like cocaine and heroin, and Guyana is plagued with too many societal vices to take on additional problems related to the drug trade. The drug trade (narcotrafficking) in Guyana, like violent crime, which blossomed during the PNC
era, but escalated to new heights during the PPP government, now threatens the very fabric of our society. Narco-trafficking or the drug trade involves a) the production and manufacture of drugs, b) sophisticated money laundering techniques to hide the income earned from the illicit drug trade, and c) the use of precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit drugs, all of which require global cooperation through an international regime on narco-trafficking to contain their proliferation. The most commonly used drugs in Guyana are marijuana (cannabis or “ganja”) and cocaine. Marijuana use is more widespread, but cocaine, given its higher market value, is a much more sought after commodity for international trade. Over the years, GPF, CANU, and GRA reported drug-related seizures worth millions of dollars. The US International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which profiles drug-related crimes around the world noted that “Guyana is a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa. Cocaine originating in Colombia is smuggled to Venezuela and onward to
Guyana by sea or air. Smugglers also transit land borders with Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname. Cocaine is often concealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport, human couriers, or various postal methods. The influence of narcotics trafficking is evident in the country’s political and criminal justice systems. Traffickers are attracted by the country’s poorly monitored ports, remote airstrips, intricate river networks, porous land borders, and weak security sector capacity.” Aside from the 1990 Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs Act, several laws, including The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, the Interception of Communications Act and the Criminal Law Procedure Act, were passed to enhance the investigative capabilities of law enforcement authorities and obtain convictions of drug t r a f f i c k e r s . To d a t e , however, the government has sought no prosecutions under these laws. In May 2014, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) identified Guyana as a “money laundering and
terrorist financing risk” after Guyana failed to amend its anti-money laundering laws, placing Guyana under targeted review by the Financial Action Task Force. The coalition government recently took actions to correct this problem. Weak enforcement measures, as well as endemic corruption within the police force make it difficult to carefully monitor this problem, much less limit its proliferation. Sophisticated organizational network and massive resources controlled by traffickers have the potential to corrupt even the most moral citizen. Guyana lacks a robust demand reduction strategy that adequately a d d r e s s e s d r u g rehabilitation. In addition, Guyanese deportees involved in drug-related crimes in the US continue to pose a security challenge. Marijuana, which is widely cultivated in G u y a n a ’s h i n t e r l a n d , consists of the dried leaves and flowering tops of the hemp plant, cannabis sativa. It produces sensations of intoxication and pleasure when smoked, chewed or drunk. The plant was used for treatment of hypertension, stomach pain, arthritis, glaucoma, as well as a muscle relaxant, and for (Continued on page 5)
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Please avert this potentially We Mahaicony Creek residents still await the doctor that we were promised dangerous situation at Bishops’ DEAR EDITOR, It is with a sense of disappointment that I pen this letter to you with the hope of spurring some action with regard to a very important issue that if left unchecked, may very well result in a tragedy. A number of weeks ago I visited the Bishops’ High School to have my child registered for Grade 7 having been offered a place there after the Grade 6 results came out. Being an “old student” of this wonderful school, I decided to show my child around and invariably we made our way to the uppermost floor. Those who are familiar with Bishops’ know that the youngest children (Forms 1 & 2) occupy this floor. Imagine my utter shock and horror when I observed that
numerous spindles from the banisters were missing. I literally ran cold! In some places, as many as three and four spindles were missing and it should be pointed out that even if one spindle is missing, two first formers could easily slip through. I stand guilty of not raising my concerns with the teachers during the registration exercise and perhaps it was because of the sheer volume of parents that were swarming them to have their respective child/children registered. Or, perhaps I felt that over the course of the holidays these glaring gaps in protective rails would have been fixed....well, I guess I was terribly mistaken. We showed up today (Thursday 27th) for orientation, mere days away
Guyana not ready for... From page 4 relief of pain from rheumatism and menstrual cramps. In 1982, the US National Academy of Science concluded that cannabis and its derivatives (such as hashish and hashish oil) have shown promises in the treatment of glaucoma, asthma, seizures, nervous system disorders and nausea and vomiting resulting from c a n c e r c h e m o t h e r a p y. However, potential long term effects of the drug use include euphoria, loss of m e m o r y, p a r a n o i d delusions, laughter, visual illusions, hallucinations, cancer, emphysema and bronchitis.
T h e G r a n g e r government should get ahead of the curve and address this scourge in our society. The United States, the largest consumer of illicit narcotics, has promised technical and material support to Guyana. Among other things, Guyana needs drug “sniffer dogs” at the airports, a proactive DEA in Guyana and closer collaboration with the US and surrounding states to ensure that money laundering laws are strengthened and Guyana can access necessary resources needed to interdict traffickers. Baytoram Ramharack
from school reopening, and to my surprise and shock and anger, the spindles are still missing! Now, I am sure that the powers that be, will be upset to have this issue publicized in such a manner but apparently neither the Ministry nor the school nor the PTA seem to be aware of the situation. I say this because I can’t fathom anyone being aware of this situation and doing nothing about it. You see Mr. Editor, we Guyanese have a way of waiting for a tragedy to occur, then we will hold our heads and cry about it and maybe...maybe rectify the p r o b l e m . . . n o t always....sometimes a second tragedy has to happen. I therefore call on whoever has responsibility to have the banisters fixed, to do so before one of our little ones fall through...because sometimes, “sorry” just won’t cut it. Concerned Parent
DEAR EDITOR, We were very happy, when we had a visit by the Hon. Minister of Public Health and Regional Health Officer of Region #5 a few months ago, during the flood period in Mahaicony Creek, East Coast Demerara. We h a d d i s c u s s e d numerous issues affecting our communities in the Mahaicony Creek, including: Doctor at the Heath Centre; price for paddy and other issues. We the Residents of Mahaicony Creek are suffering from non-access to health care, because there is no doctor or medics at the
health centre to provide service to the people of Mahaicony Creek. We are paying high cost for transportation to access health care at the Mahaicony Hospital. The Minister of Health and the Regional Health Officer during their discussion with us, promised that the next week a doctor will be at the Health Centre to provide service to the residents in the Mahaicony Creek. We have been trying since then unto to now to make contact with the Minister of public Health many times, which were
very futile. His office said:” you have to make an appointment.’’ Residents of Mahaicony Creek are still waiting on the service of a doctor, promised by the Minister of Public Health. We want to urge the new Government, please do not make promises that you cannot fulfil.We are now calling on our Region five Member of Parliament the Hon. Priya Devi Manickchand to make some additional representation for her people in the Mahaicony Creek. Concerned Residents of Mahaicony Creek
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
Four dead in Dominica as Tropical Storm Erika brings rain and floods
Four dead in Dominica as Tropical Storm Erika brings rain and floods MIAMI, USA — Tropical Storm Erika dumped almost nine inches of torrential rainfall on Dominica, causing widespread flooding and mudslides that killed at least four people on the island, as the system crossed the Eastern Caribbean and headed towards Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic yesterday.Police Superintendent Daniel Carbon said three of the deaths occurred in a mudslide in the southeast of the island. Authorities recovered the bodies of an elderly blind man and two children from their home. A fourth death occurred in the capital of Roseau, where a man was found near his home following a mudslide. About 80 percent of the island was without electricity and the water supply was cut off, authorities said. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, at 5:00 pm EDT yesterday, the centre of Tropical Storm Erika was located about 175 miles (280 km) west of Guadeloupe, moving toward the west-
northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue for the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the centre of Erika will move near the Virgin Islands yesterday evening, move near or over Puerto Rico last night, and move near or over the Dominican Republic today.Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h), with higher gusts. No significant change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the centre. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Anguilla, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, St Martin, St Barthelemy, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic from the northern border with Haiti eastward and southward to Isla Saona.A tropical storm watch is in effect for Guadeloupe, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks
and Caicos Islands. Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic and in Haiti should monitor the progress of Erika.Tropical storm conditions were expected to continue over portions of the warning area in the Leeward Islands yesterday afternoon, and reach the Virgin Islands yesterday evening and Puerto Rico last night. Tropical storm conditions were possible in the watch area in the Leeward Islands yesterday afternoon. Tropical storm conditions could reach portions of the watch area in the Dominican Republic today, and the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands late today and tonight. Erika is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 12 inches possible across portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern Bahamas through Saturday.
T&T loses Secretariat bid for Arms Trade Treaty TRINIDAD and Tobago has lost its bid to be the seat of the permanent secretariat of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which aims to regulate the international arms trade. It was announced yesterday that Geneva, Switzerland had been chosen. In February this year, Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar said that Trinidad and Tobago has made a formal offer to host the secretariat of the ATT which was ratified by the United Nations in September 2014. Addressing the Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC) summit, Persad-Bissessar said Port of Spain made the formal offer to host the secretariat “because we believe that it would serve the interests of the international community as a whole, to have the secretariat located in the Caribbean region”. Trinidad and Tobago’s candidacy was endorsed by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. (CELAC). Only two weeks ago, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran lobbied the United Nations (UN) Security Council to support the Arms Trade
Treaty, and expressed the hope that Trinidad and Tobago would be successful in its bid to host the Secretariat. He said there was a need for equitable geographic distribution in the location of international organisations and the trade in small arms and light weapons was a major concern for T&T and the region.The announcement that Geneva had been picked, was made during a meeting in Cancun, Mexico, where 121 States who are party to the Arms Trade Treaty also considered Trinidad and Tobago and Vienna, Austria. (Trinidad Express)
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Kaieteur News
Friday August 28, 2015
Anger as Venezuela border remains closed despite talks BBC News - The announcement follows talks by the two countries’ foreign ministers on Wednesday aimed at normalising the situation in the border region. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure last week after smugglers injured three Venezuelan soldiers and a civilian. He also announced that Colombians living illegally in Venezuela would be deported.Since then, more than 1,000 Colombians have been removed. Another 5,000 are thought to have left by crossing the River Tachira, which separates the two countries. The two foreign ministers said they had taken a first step
towards normalising relations.“We’re satisfied with this meeting and we’re going to continue taking steps firmly and with unity and in the spirit of friendship and cooperation,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said.However, she did not accede to her Colombian counterpart’s request to open the border crossing near the north-eastern city of Cucuta.Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said many Colombians were engaged in legitimate business in Venezuela and could not work unless the border was reopened.The two sides said their defence ministers would meet in the coming days.Colombian
Thousands of Colombians who were living in Venezuela have crossed back into Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos travelled to Cucuta on Wednesday to speak to some of the deportees.A small TV set was turned on in the shelter set up in the Coliseo Cucuta, a sports ground in the town centre.Last night, some 40 people sat around it, watching the evening news.
They were watching the news coverage of their own drama, nodding or shaking their heads depending on what was shown.Two-hundred-and-nineteen people were given shelter here after they were deported from Venezuela; their houses now empty on the other side of the
border, some demolished by the Venezuelan authorities.Food and clothing are in good supply but this is only a temporary solution. People here are worried about where they will go when the shelter closes. The border region around Cucuta is a haven for smug-
glers who buy subsidised goods in Venezuela and sell them at a profit in Colombia. A number of criminal gangs are also operating in the area.Some of them are the remnants of paramilitary groups originally created to fight Colombia’s left-wing Farc rebels.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
I am not going to blow any fuses over the “revelations” that large amounts of gold were being smuggled out of Guyana to, of all places, the United States of America. I am not going to get drawn into the charges that this smuggling was part of a massive money laundering operation which has been uncovered by the United States of America. I have learnt over the years to be mistrustful of the United States. This is a nation that is notorious for dirty tricks, including going to the United Nations with bogus evidence and informing the world that Iraq, under Saddam
Hussein, had weapons of mass destruction. I am going to be superstitious and question why the information about the gold smuggling was broken on a Wednesday. The fourth day of the week has in recent times been associated with revelations of corruption under the former administration. The only problem is that after these juicy stores about public malfeasance are dropped, not much is heard about the issue afterwards. A few weeks ago, for example, the country was regaled about gasoline being uplifted from GuyOil without lawful
authorization. The persons who were accused of this act were even invited to settle their indebtedness. Nothing has been heard as to whether anyone did and what was the outcome of the millions of dollars alleged to have been pilfered. One therefore has to be circumspect about this latest allegation about gold smuggling from Guyana to the United States. It is said that the gold was declared as scrap gold so as to avoid paying higher taxes in the United States. I have to take this aspect with a pinch of salt. While it is admitted that
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called this week’s accord between the rival Koreas “a landmark occasion” paving the way for defused military tension and improved ties, but said it was the strength of its armed forces that made the deal possible. North and South Korea agreed early on Tuesday to end a military standoff that sparked an exchange of
artillery fire and had ratcheted up tension on one of the world’s most heavily-fortified borders. The two sides also agreed to open a new channel of dialogue to discuss a range of issues with the aim of improving ties, raising hopes for a fresh push to restore talks and exchanges that had been cut off since 2010. “The joint press release published at the contact
provided a crucial landmark occasion of defusing the acute military tension and putting the catastrophic interKorean relations on the track of reconciliation and trust,” the North’s KCNA news agency TOday quoted Kim as saying in a meeting with military aides. Kim noted the accord was reached “thanks to the tremendous military muscle Continued on page 11
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un hails accord with South as landmark
gold in certain forms does attract duty while other types of gold do not, it would be difficult for any smuggler to get pass US Customs and Border authorities by declaring gold bars as gold leafs. The US authorities are not dummies, and if this was happening on the scale that it is alleged it was happening, persons would have been charged with an offence. If as is alleged, money laundering was involved, the United States would not have the story breaking in Guyana. Those involved would have
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been brought to the Court in the United States. The only reason gold is smuggled out of Guyana is because of the high royalties relative to what is charged in other nearby countries. If the Guyanese authorities want to stop the smuggling of gold, they should have long ensured that Guyana’s royalties are in line with that charged by other neighboring countries. If you remove the royalties on the gold you remove the incentive to smuggle. Of course that is easier
said than done, because the revenues lost have to be recovered from some other sources. It is better to recover the lost revenues at the front end of production, through a resource tax, rather than tax actual production, which acts as a disincentive for persons to declare the actual production they make.
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Kaieteur News
Friday August 28, 2015
== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
The passing of the droit du seigneur In feudal times the aristocratic lord had the right to take the virginity of any of his vassal’s wives on the day of marriage. This was called droit du seigneur. In authoritarian systems where the oligarchs had complete hegemony, droit du seigneur applied in the political context, meant the dictators could do what they wanted. Now that the ancien régime has fallen, creepy tales out of a Draculean storybook are being shown to a nation that can only watch in disbelief. Guyana is experiencing a quotidian theatre of the exposure of unimaginable droit du seigneur. It is the tall story of a tyrannical cabal that did whatever it wanted. It had the power of the aristocratic lord. Is the worse yet to come? Over half a billion dollars were drawn down by a Ministry and there is no trace as yet as to where the money went. It is logical to assume that there are more mysterious venalities like this one. The Prime Minister said that in the 2014 budget, $23 million was allocated for the purchase of vehicles for the Office of the Prime Minster of which $18 million went to the
acquisition of a Land Cruiser. The menagerie of cars never turned up at the Prime Minister’s compound. The PM provided the details of an alternative arrangement by a former minister. He further disclosed that between 2012 and 2014, $50 million dollars were allocated for the purchase of vehicles for the PM’s office. When the ancien régime fell, only eight old, reconditioned cars were found in the PM’s jurisdiction. Where did the money or the cars go? Why did one of the poorest economies on the globe spend 250, 000 American dollars for vehicles for the Prime Minister in just two years? Logical deduction comes in. If in two years, US$250,000 was spent, then how much is the actual sum for vehicles over the twenty- three-year period in which Sam Hinds was Prime Minister? This is where the white man blame game becomes appalling nonsense. Almost fifty years after Independence, Guyana still begs developed countries for aid grants to the point where the Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in 2009 called Guyana an international panhandler. This
very mendicant spends US$250,000 on transport resources for just one Minister and within a time frame of just two years If anything was clear as day under a sunlit sky under the reign of the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal was its enjoyment of droit du seigneur and the purchase of Red House is a huge photograph of the depravity. To listen to what happened to Red House would give you goose bumps. One still cannot believe it is true. A state-owned heritage building was transferred into private hands under a lease and the recipients are in fact the ruling party. But the insanity doesn’t stop there. The rent is not a million dollars a month so that at the end of three years the government can do something worthwhile with the accumulated thirty-six million. The rent is an insulting $1000 monthly (that is Guyanese currency, not American). The Red House immorality is just the tip of the iceberg in the manifestation of the PPP’s droit du seigneur. In many ways, the take-over of the Arthur Chung
Convention Centre is the crudest act of philistinism in Caribbean governance. I live near the Centre and have seen the desecration of that place that borders on semi-civilized politics. Birthday parties, weddings, engagements, Phagwah festivities and funerals were held there. The chief actors in all these events were related to the déclassé leadership of the just fallen ancien régime. The funerals were those of Navin Chandarpal, a party apparatchik who substituted hard work for what the French would call étate d’ivresse and Reepu Daman Persaud, whose religious career was marked by what the French
would call tatillonne. Why would any selfrespecting government permit its high-ranking official to have birthday escapades at the country’s only international convention centre? Even if the state wanted to give Chandarpal and Persaud an ostentatious funeral ambience, why choose the Convention Centre and not Red House? Red House has always been associated with political symbols because of its occupancy by Premier Jagan. One would have thought it would have been fitting to have the funeral services there. The ancien régime is gone, but what it has left behind,
Frederick Kissoon when it is exposed, will no doubt shock not only Guyana but the immediate Caribbean and beyond. In every household tomorrow, the question is there. What other depraved, immoral, corrupt act has the PPP done while in office?
Dem boys seh...
Jagdeo suddenly thinking bout crime victims People does seh and do things in this world that would mek others believe that monkey can fly airplane to Japan. Jagdeo and the Pee Pee Pee is now calling on this new Govt. to set aside or put in place a special fund fuh victims of violent crimes. When dem boys hear this dem became speechless. A matter of fact one of dem boys seh, “Look at those bastards. Dem have no shame. Imagine this was de same Pee Pee Pee that was ruling de country from 2002 to 2008 when Guyana had its worst crime situation. That was de time when man, woman, child, dog, cat and everything get slaughter”. De Pee Pee Pee didn’t think then about a special fund fuh dem victims. De only thing Jagdeo do was to give de relatives of dem policemen who get kill in de line of duty $1 million, far less than wha he give heself as pension in one month. Dem boys seh that he didn’t see it fit to give de victims of de Lusignan Massacre any money. He did not see it fit to help the victims of the Bartica slaughter. It tek de Waterfalls paper to raise funds fuh dem poor poor families. Donald Dumb was de head of de Pee Pee Pee and Jagdeo that devil was de head of de government. None of dem ever think about any fund. Instead dem tek money and run to hide in hotel. Nuff of dem move out of dem house and mek de people pay fuh dem stay in some fancy hotel. Now dem know that de fund would provide justice fuh de victims. Can anybody believe this?
Dem boys seh that this is not only bareface; decency mek dem wouldn’t seh wha deh pun de tip of dem tongue. Is these people fuh real?? And likewise, can you believe Mike Khan at de hospital? De hospital didn’t do knee surgery fuh months because the saw ain’t got battery. When dem boys ask Mike Khan wha happen, he tell dem is only couple weeks now that he hear bout de situation when somebody tell him about de battery. Is how long it gun tek him to get a battery? People can fly in battery from de furthest part of de world in couple hours. Is something people does do overnight. If it gun tek weeks to put in a battery in a saw to fix dem old people knees, imagine how long it gun tek to put in battery in de heart machine. At that rate de cemetery gun overflow. That is wha dem boys seh. And can you believe that nobody can find de shaat scamp or de multi-million-dollar vehicle that he buy just before he party lose de elections? But he party talking bout some vehicle Moses buying. Is one just like de one de shaat scamp hide somewhere. But de Pee Pee Pee mekking a noise because in dem books, Moses should drive a Morris Oxford while dem drive de multimillion-dollar vehicles. Irfaat right now trying to defend a $20 million vehicle but dem ain’t saying nutten bout that. Talk half and think how Jagdeo bareface.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan
By Kiana Wilburg It was a grueling three days for Members of Parliament as the Opposition had about three days to scrutinize the Estimates of the 2015 Budget which saw them going past 3:00 a.m. on each day. But in the wee hours of yesterday, the House passed the amended Appropriation Bill which now authorizes the coalition government to spend some $181.7B exclusive of the statutory sum of about $39B. Statutory money is not inspected or requires the approval of the House. This sum has first claim on monies in the Consolidated Fund. Statutory money includes the public debt and salaries for Judges and the Ombudsman. Any other money that does not fall into this category has to be appropriated for by the National Assembly. With its majority hold in
the House, the government was successful in approving the $181.7B which it budgeted for. The only amendment made, was to the format of arriving at the said total in the Appropriation Bill. The opposition during the Committee of Supply grilled the government at length on most line items, once permitted by House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland. But in some cases, questions posed by Opposition members did not deal with line items in the Budget Estimates as they were supposed to. Instead, some questions dealt with matters raised in the budget speech presented to the House by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. In some instances, it appeared that former Minister of Tourism, Irfaan Ali annoyed Jordan. Ali persistently asked about the monies which were given to
North Korea leader Kim... From page 9 with the nuclear deterrent for self-defense built by the great party as a pivot and matchless ranks single-mindedly united around the party,” KCNA said. The comments were made
at an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, the same venue led by Kim last week that warned of military action unless Seoul stops the propaganda broadcasts.
the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and where he got it from prior to the budget being brought to the House. But on each occasion Ali stood to ask the question, the Finance Minister, said, “No matter how you go ‘round and come ‘round, I am dealing with line items. Not that.” This occurred during the consideration of the Estimates for the Ministry of Finance. At no point did Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo who is a former Finance Minister, question Jordan. But even through the mudslinging, the political opposition and the APNU+AFC government were able to work together and come to an agreement on the approval of monies for the Constitutional entities. Both sides had reached an agreement that the monies allocated for each Constitutional entity would be passed with no questions asked. These agencies included the Parliament Office, the Office of the Auditor General, Supreme Court, Office of the Ombudsman, Judicial Service Commission, Human Rights Commission and Guyana Elections Commission. The Finance Minister then laid a motion in the House for amendments to be moved to the estimates of the expenditure for the financial
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- Jagdeo vows to be corruption watchdog year 2015 in the Committee of Supply regarding the treatment of all constitutional agencies within the estimates. The motion was passed and the subventions for the Constitutional agencies which totaled $5,116, 254,000 were approved. The Amended Appropriation Bill was subsequently read before the National Assembly and passed. Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, in an invited comment, said that he was elated with the work done and added that the amended Appropriation Bill is a product of agreements reached by both sides. He expressed that government and the opposition worked on and agreed to a format for the Bill and this is a reflection of the maturity of the members in working together in the interest of the people. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo immediately gave a sigh of relief and said, “I am happy that this is over. I knew that the House was competent to get the job done in three days and everyone worked really hard. Yes, we are disappointed with the behaviour of the Parliamentarians in the Opposition’s camp during the debate, but in the end we got the job done.”
Outside the Chambers of the National Assembly was the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who was perturbed by Jordan’s refusal to answer questions posed by one of his members. “What we just witnessed is the worst act of accountability that I have seen on the part of a Finance Minister ever in this country. He hid behind several rules of the National Assembly and refused to deal with the questions posed to him by members of our side.” Jagdeo added, “He refused to speak on the $5M he transferred to GRDB prior to the budget and the $3.8B that was diverted to GuySuCo. We asked him where this money came from and he refused to say if it came from the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund or if it was from somewhere else.” The former President then revealed his “conspiracy theory” in this regard. He said that the only reason Jordan could have refused to answer the questions is because he is guilty of spending monies without the approval of Parliament – the same “crime” the government, when in opposition, had accused the former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh of.
“This is money he refuses to account for. He has also refused to answer for where the $23B transfer to the rice industry is located in the Estimates. From our understanding, it is located as a public debt and he does not want to admit that. He has misled us all.” Jagdeo also blasted the government for what he described as the “sole sourcing” of forensic auditors without pursuing public tender. He said that this, along with Jordan’s actions in the House, constitute some of the worst acts of corruption. He promised that he will do everything in his power to expose this to the Guyanese people. The Opposition Leader said that even if he has to get the recording of Jordan’s behaviour and post it online via YouTube, he will do so. Jagdeo said that he is intent on holding the feet of the government to the fire as a means of ensuring accountability. He has essentially vowed to be the “watchdog” of the people in and out of Parliament. Members of the National Assembly will meet once more today to approve other Bills and make arrangements for the House to enter into a period of recess.
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Kaieteur News
Friday August 28, 2015
Unreported workplace accidents remain high – Labour Officer …at least 18 employers prosecuted so far Although reporting accidents as they occur in work places is mandated by Law, officials at the Ministry of Social Protection have stated that employers in all sectors, including mining, have not been forthcoming with reports of accidents and fatalities though instances have remained high. Resultantly, at least 18 employers have been charged and hauled before the courts this year for failing to file a report with the Labour Department of the Ministry of Social Protection on accidents that occurred in work places. During a seminar held on Wednesday with the media, the Ministry revealed that it is seeking to take stronger, more drastic measures to punish employers who do not fulfill the responsibility. “They have been lacking in keeping the mandate in the Law to report in a specified period of time. When they fail to report within that period of time given in the Act, we prosecute them,” Dexter Semple, a Labour and Occupational Safety and Health Officer told media operatives. Employers are usually prosecuted in the lower courts
(the Magistrates’ Court) and could be made to pay a fine of $50,000 or may be ordered to serve up to three months in prison for failing to report workplace accidents. Asked by this newspaper if such a penalty suffices, the official said that the Ministry is currently reviewing the Law and will be pushing for amendments. “It will be reviewed very soon and changed to a greater fine and greater imprisonment time.” “The occurrence of accidents is too great for us to continue along this path. We have to do something more drastic to employers out there to have them realise that persons’ lives are more important than their profits,” the Labour official expressed. The Occupation Safety and Health Act was passed in 1997, and it speaks to the need for accidents to be reported. The Law specifies that any accident arising out of and in the course of the employment of any worker occurs and causes the loss of the worker’s life, or disables the worker for more than one day, written notice of the accident must be forthcoming. The Ministry
started policing it in September 1999, the official explained, as he stated that prior to its enactment, in 1997, there was the Factories Act which delimited its reach to other areas. In principle, every enterprise, engaged in production or service, has to report on its management of workplace safety and accidents that have taken place. However, many service establishments do not file reports under the impression that this requirement only applies to production enterprises, it was explained. Semple commented that workplaces have not been adhering to the laws surrounding accidents in the workplace and each entity should have an internal committee set up to overlook health and safety. The committee must forward reports of practices obtained within their entities that protect workers. The official explained that the Occupation Safety and Health Act encompasses all work places and pushed for the physical, mental and social well-being of workers across board. He expressed that a safe and comfortable workplace would not be one
Officials of the Ministry of Social Protection in discussion with representatives from various media houses that suffers from absenteeism and other conditions that would negatively affect productivity. According to the officials, the ideal workplace would entail having proper ventilation and lighting, clearly marked drinking water, lunch room, and suitable conveniences such as sinks and toilets. Workplaces, it was explained, must have first aid kits and for large entities (with approximately 100 workers) there must be a trained first aider on staff. The number of working accidents has stayed high, with the mining sector having a number of fatalities.
Recently, there have been several mining-related accidents resulting in fatalities and other serious injuries. A significant number of these accidents occurred in cases where the walls of pits have collapsed. The year of 2015 started out as a horrendous one for Guyana’s mining fraternity, with statistics showing that accidental deaths of gold miners already exceed the figures for the entire 2014. Statistics released by the Ministry early in the year show that the mining sector recorded 10 deaths for the year 2014, including two
separate incidents of drowning at the same creek. But that figure has already been topped this year, notwithstanding the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has set out several safety guidelines that mining operators are expected to adhere to. Whether they are enforced by the majority of operators is another matter entirely. Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Presidency has begun to invite stakeholders in the mining industry as well as other concerned citizens to make contributions to an Inquiry into deadly mining accidents.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 13
Majority of smuggled gold taken to Suriname via planes - GRA launching probe, vows action One day after Government confirmed that a major investigation has been launched into a huge gold smuggling racket that has been negatively impacting the economy, there are more details emerging about the secretive trade. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has stepped into the matter, too, yesterday saying that the tax collection agency is concerned about the revelations and is launching its own probe, while stating that the possibilities of Customs officers being part of the scheme is unlikely. Initial indications were that 10,000-15,000 ounces of gold were leaving Guyana weekly - the majority for the US. It appears now that the Suriname route has been the one preferred by both illegal and licenced traders. Illegal traders, according to Government officials and investigators, used planes at the Ogle Airport to take the gold to Suriname, without even declaring what was on board. Other traders, some of them licenced, also preferred to fly direct to Suriname with their precious cargo, underdeclaring the amounts or sometimes not declaring it at all. Sometimes the flights were officially filed to fly to Berbice but instead, the planes ended up in Suriname. Quite a significant amount of gold, not declared to the Guyana Gold Board and other authorities, was also being flown to neighbouring Brazil. The extent of the smuggling rackets, involving several licenced traders and independent operators, has the new Government worried because of the taxes and royalties being lost, amounting to billions of dollars annually. Officials knowledgeable about the rackets said that investigators should examine paperwork relating to the gold being declared in Guyana by the traders as against what is declared in countries like the US, Suriname and Brazil. It would
Minister Raphael Trotman most likely also reveal a significant number of underdeclarations on official documents in Guyana. LOOPHOLES “The problem is occurring right at the airports in Guyana. You would not dare take a chance outside of Guyana; thinking of fudging the records or lying to authorities. All the loopholes are happening right here at the Ogle Airport and at CJIA. What we are hearing about is only a tip of the iceberg!” one official emphasised. The official disclosed that Guyana is losing big time in another way. Licenced traders and others returning with large amounts of cash have found ways not to declare the monies when they return from the US and other countries. On Wednesday, Government officials confirmed that a major investigation is underway into the smuggling of gold
from Guyana. The new administration was reportedly alerted to the organised scheme by the US Government who became alarmed after noticing a surge of gold being taken to that country. While it is not a new thing to Guyana, gold smuggling has seen a sharp spike over the last two years, as world market prices fell. Already for this year, the industry has recorded a 30 percent drop in declarations. Last year, declarations fell to 387,508 ounces from a high of 481,000 ounces in 2013. Foreign currency earnings from the gold trade also saw a sharp reduction from US$716M in 2013 to US$470M last year, a big dent for the country’s revenues. The Guyana Gold Board has been reporting falling declarations which was blamed on miners leaving the industry because of poor world prices. The extent of smuggling has not been known until now, with Government being told that the industry was in deep trouble and needed help. The US Government has reportedly yanked the visas for a number of licenced traders and other businessmen involved in the trade. It is believed that at least US$500M in gold is being smuggled annually. The smuggling involved independent traders who have been taking smaller amounts of up to 200 ounces
out on direct flights to the US. Government has called in the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) to investigate the racket. On Wednesday, Minister Raphael Trotman, who has responsibilities for Natural Resources, disclosed the reduction of gold smuggling is a major priority for the administration. PERTURBED GRA Yesterday, GRA in response to news of the smuggling racket said it is most perturbed by recent revelations in the press about an organised gold smuggling racket, and the implication of Customs officials in the malpractice. GRA said it has been battling in the past to weed out officers who were involved in wrongdoings. The entity said that, based on the roles and responsibilities of Customs officers, particularly at CJIA and other ports of entry, it is quite baffling to the authority that officers would be embroiled in the illegal gold smuggling ring. “Nevertheless it is GRA’s
A significant amount of gold is being smuggled to Suriname, Government officials say. view that every person or agency in question should cooperate with the authorities and avoid speculation.” The agency explained that passengers are allowed with gold jewellery without declarations once it does not exceed a certain value. “On the other hand those in possession of raw and scrap gold and those with gold in commercial quantities, must make the required declarations. In such instances, the declaration must be accompanied by an
approved import licence and permission from the Guyana Gold Board with an attachment stating the price, weight and other particulars of the shipper and consignee.” GRA admitted that there is a likelihood of persons taking advantage of this allowance to elude Customs officials. “As such, the support from other enforcement agencies such as the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) would be integral (Continued on page 14)
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Kaieteur News
Friday August 28, 2015
UG needs to explore income-generating ideas Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine says cash-strapped University of Guyana (UG) should explore revenue-generating ideas, as means of bringing additional resources into the institution. The University of Guyana is financed mainly by a subvention from the Government and from students’ tuition fees. Recent incidents at the University have revealed that the institutions’ total income has been dwindling, and for some time now has been inadequate to cover its operating costs. This has resulted in issues
relating to salaries, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions and income tax deductions, default payment to utilities services, and neglect to routine maintenance works. Minister Roopnaraine holds the view that the simple answer, for the lack of resources at the University is not the Government’s pumping of more money into the campus, “although Government probably should.” ”What it means though, is that the University has to begin to embark on its own
- Education Minister income-generation activities,” the Minister said, during an exclusive interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA.) He posited that the institution should be looking at areas such as consultancies, fund raising and other services. The Education Minister also thinks that the standards of the University have undoubtedly fallen. He pointed out, however, that what “Universities essentially put out, depends on what
they take in.” Expounding on his earlier assessment, Minister Roopnaraine clarified that “if you have problems with the school system, in terms of what you are delivering to the University, you cannot expect the University to produce gold at the end of four years.” The University of Guyana does not come under the remit of the Ministry of Education; instead, it is run by a Council. From the Ministry of Education and the Government side, Minister Roopnaraine recently appointed two representatives on the Council: Vincent Alexander and the Permanent Secretary (PS) Delma Nedd. Minister Roopnaraine believes that the Council needs to be autonomous and free from Government influence. ”I have been very wary; I have sat on the University of Guyana Council for many years, and I know that the last thing that the University Council needs is to be government-directed.” He however expressed the
view that what the Council needs is to be strengthened, in the sense of the persons who are put on the board. “We are putting excellent persons on the Council, and I know that the private sector has very good and active people who serve on the council.” The Education Minister explained that the Council must now implement a plan of action to transform the fortunes of the University. “There have been reports after reports, written on the University. We are not short of reports; what we are short of at the University is implementation,” the Minister said. ”The recommendations are there, we need to implement,” he added. Coming in October, the likelihood exists that the Council will be looking for a Vice Chancellor, as Professor and Principal Jacob Opadeyi is expected to leave the University. “This means that we will have to go through an entire process of advertising and getting applications, and so we can choose someone for the University; one who will make a difference (at the University),” Minister
Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine Roopnaraine said. One thing that the Minister is very pleased about is his recommendation to the Council that Professor Nigel Harris be appointed Chancellor. He noted that he can only recommend, not appoint Harris, as this is the right of the Council … to make the appointment. The Minister however expressed the hope that the Council, at its next meeting, will appoint Nigel Harris as the Chancellor at the University. “It would lift the spirit at the University and begin to move us to where we want to go,” stated Minister Roopnaraine.
Accused teen armed robber remanded Alferno Archer, 17, was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, in relation to charges that stemmed from armed robberies which occurred on August 21, 2015. The robberies are said to have occurred at the same location. According to the first allegation, on August 21, at West Ruimveldt, Archer, while being in possession of an unlicenced firearm, robbed Kimberly Moore of one purse, one identification card, and a wedding ring among other
items all totaling $106,000. It was further alleged that on the same date, at West Ruimveldt, he also robbed Demetrius Howard of documents valued $2000. At the time of that robbery the accused was armed with a gun. Finally, it was also alleged that again on August 21, also at West Ruimveldt, Archer committed a robbery while brandishing the illegal weapon. The charge stated that he robbed Kimberly Cort of one BLU cellular phone valued $40,000 and $6,000 cash,
property of Jermaine Cort. Archer swung from side to side in the dock, and denied the charges after they were read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan. He was remanded to prison until September 3.
Majority of smuggled... (From page 13) given the pervasive nature of smuggling. Customs Officers at the CJIA do not monitor outgoing passengers’ baggage. This activity is monitored solely by CANU, the Criminal Investigation Department and Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force and airport security personnel.” GRA stressed that in the event of any discovery, Customs is notified by the relevant agency. GRA said it will be seeking to ascertain the perpetrators in question to determine what enforcement action will be taken in accordance with the country’s border, trade laws and regulations. “It is however worth noting that part of the responsibilities of Customs officers at the CJIA include the monitoring of the duty free shop, the incoming and outgoing desk, and the movement and transshipment of cargo.”
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STRAIGHT
UP aff’
G
The Haitian truth… Lessons in struggle, perseverance and unyielding bonds
for CARIFESTA XII
By Nicholas Peters
T
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
he Caribbean is alive with CARIFESTA XII! That's right, it's that time again where countries and cultures from all across the region come together to exhibit and celebrate each others' unique cultures. In many ways the Caribbean Festival of Arts, has, in recent times at least, become a bigger deal for the region. It may not be a talking point which is hotly discussed, but you can definitely say that it is more present in people's consciousness, especially with Guyanese. Having hosted the cultural international event in the 2008, the festival is still quite fresh in the minds of some and a vague memory for others. One thing's for sure, within our cultural spheres, CARIFESTA has garnered its own prestige. This year the international exhibit is being hosted in the Caribbean's first and only nation which successfully freed itself from slavery and gained independence. That premier state is Haiti, the land of high mountains and a dynamic history. Hispaniola was once the crowned jewel of the Caribbean Sea. Traders from all across the region, Europe and the Americas came to the island to get a piece of its vast agricultural wealth. Resting on the western side of the island of Hispaniola, Haiti was colonized by the French in the 15th century. During this time, the colony was seen as a prized possession of France, with other kingdoms paying keen interest on that mountainous and fertile land. But the road through which Haiti became the Caribbean's most sought after piece of land was not paved with good and noble intentions. Many Africans died on their way there while those that survived were subjected to the unimaginable acts of the savage profit making Slave System. Moreover, inhabitants of the island faced strict stratified roles with a class system that was unjust to island natives outside the slave system. Meanwhile the colony's French rulers reaped the benefits of the island's wealth but not without facing their own turmoil back in France, with the French Revolution ultimately coming to pass. No one knew that a fire ignited in Europe would have repercussions in the distant waters of the West, but it did. The intellectual realization of “freedom, liberty and fraternity” made its way across the Atlantic, adding another component to the Trans-Continental Trade System that laid the foundation for the Caribbean gem. Thus, the Haitian Revolution was sparked, engulfing a colony in rebellion against slavery, race and class stratification but
uniting it in a struggle for freedom. Years of arduous fighting, clever political maneuvers and tactical combat led to the first freed black nation in the New World. It's also the second nation to win its freedom through revolution, in behind only the United States of America. Indeed, Haiti remains a unique gem in that congregation of nation states that sit around the Caribbean Sea. In many respects the island became a melting pot of ideas, values and spirit, which resulted in a strong and binding culture. Despite the “poverty factor” that is bantered around about the country, Haitians have a proud everlasting attachment to family, nationhood and culture. Haiti's culture, recognised or not, is a treasure trove of art, music, dance, theatre, film, fashion and everything in between, leaving an indelible mark where ever it's showcased. Furthermore, with a unique language and a dynamic history, Haiti tends to be seen as separate from the rest of the region. However, CARIFESTA XII opens up the Caribbean to the island's cultural wealth and gives the region the chance to learn about Haiti. We tend to forget that as a region we are bonded by a common history. Ours is a past marred by struggles with identity, poverty, race, class and a colonial heritage that has us thinking we were “less than” those who governed us. It's quite easy to forget the Haitian culture and its exceptionality, given the extensive coverage and unfair stereotypes of the issues which plague the nation. Hurricanes, tropical storms and earthquakes have dealt their blows along with rampant corruption and political instability. But that's only a part of the Haitian truth. Haiti's history is intricate and a vibrant milieu while its people are tremendously unified in perseverance. And, while they have their setbacks, the struggles of the island are not as exclusive to Haiti as the rest of the Caribbean, or even Guyana, may think. Without realizing it, we Guyanese tend to hold on to our old colonial motto “Damus Petimus Que Vicissim” – “We Give and Expect in Return”. In the cultural Olympics that is CARIFESTA XII, it appears that our delegates will get to return with more than they expected and the same goes for Haiti. But if there's one thing Haiti can teach us in Guyana it is to fight, fight, fight to break free of the restrictions of our old motto and move closer achieving our goal of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.
THE POP CULT… THE REVIEWS ARE IN!!!
Pixels is not an Adam Sandler masterpiece ...and there's nothing wrong with that
By Desilon Daniels
A
dam Sandler's latest attempt at humour is 'Pixels', a comedic action movie focused on 1980's video games coming to life. On the believability scale, Pixels doesn't rank high and many persons might find it juvenile, unchallenging and crass. Nonetheless, there is still a place for a movie like it in today's film world. Here's the rundown: the US in the 80's sends a capsule into space containing things pop culture related such as video games, movies and music. Decades later, the aliens come to Earth but they have taken the received message as a threat and are prepared to fight planet Earth to the death. It's now up to video game lover Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), the US President Will Cooper (Kevin James) and their team of nerds (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to save the world before it is game over. The movie starts nicely, showing us a flashback of Brenner and Cooper when they were kids. It also shows us immediately the types of personalities they, and other characters we are introduced to, possess. Flash forward about two and a half decades and Brenner and Cooper are still the best of friends; it's one of those typical “bromances” between Brenner and Cooper, something we're used to in Sandler's films. We also see a lot of immature jokes, something we're also used to in Sandler's films. Generally, such content would cause a movie to lose major points but overall, Pixels was a funny comedy/action film filled with lots of laugh out loud moments. The movie was interesting from start to finish and held my attention throughout. It helped a lot that visually Pixels was very interesting. When it came to bringing the video games to life, the graphics did a great job of creating arcade games such as Pac Man, Centipede and Donkey Kong seem as if they were attacking our planet. The graphics were beefed up by a great soundtrack of 80's pop songs and arcade sounds typically associated with the games added to it all. It was a true classic gaming experience from the beginning. All of these positives do not mean there
weren't any negative aspects to the film. Each character in this movie is unnaturally quirky. In fact, it's unbelievable how so many strange persons – from the main characters down to the supporting characters – could be so darn weird. There were also some over the top moments that tried a bit too hard to make viewers laugh and instead made us cringe or roll our eyes at the obviousness. There is also the unlikely romance between Sandler's character and that of Michelle Monaghan, who played a high level government official. No way in the real world is someone like Brenner ending up with someone like that. These elements made lots of critics hate Pixels. Critics were particularly harsh on Sandler, who they believe continued to short-change the world with yet another “subpar” film. Let's get this straight: Adam Sandler has had a number of bad movies over the past few years. There are the likes of 'Jack and Jill' (burn it with fire!) and 'That's My Boy' (which we all try to forget). Yes, there was a time when Sandler was extremely funny but his typical approach to his films has grown old for many. People want more from him, which is understandable. However, Sandler has had more hits than misses. He has made movies that are corny and immature but which are ultimately entertaining. With Sandler you can always expect to get something ludicrous, something that is so far from reality that you can forget your own problems. Over the years he has established a certain brand of humour that is unique to him. If I wanted Chris Rock's humour, I'd watch a Chris Rock film. If I wanted some Louis C.K. humour, I'd watch his show. Not every single funny man or woman is for everyone and asking Sandler to change his brand of funny simply because it doesn't appeal to everyone is unfair. Pixels is saturated with this brand of humour and once you go into watching the film with that in mind, your movie watching experience will be so much better. Don't expect a hard hitting comedy from something that was never intended to be so. Remember, 'Pixels' is not an Adam Sandler masterpiece and there's nothing wrong with that.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
Thieves overwhelming Kuru Kururu...
Residents call for increase of ranks at outpost
The newly constructed Kuru Kururu Outpost
Long ago windows were left opened throughout the night. Nowadays even to blink you have to think twice before doing so, as something could go missing. As a matter of fact, even having your eyes wide open doesn’t stop the thieves in their desperate quest for money. The older residents of Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway usually reminisce on those days while having little chats with the younger generation. It has become quite obvious that those days are gone as windows and doors are shut tight by nightfall. Before the sun goes down many are in a haste to get home to secure their houses. Unfortunately for some, their measure of security has been an epic failure, as thieves have proven themselves to be
brainy as they continue to find ways of entering; sometimes undetected. It is only the “bravehearts” and unworried party-goers that stay out beyond 7:00 p.m. ‘Burglaries’ have been a long ongoing issue which residents are becoming alarmed about. There have been continuous break-ins within the last few months. Investigations by Kaieteur News have revealed that there have been over ten break-ins within the past two weeks and arrests are yet to be made following reports at the Kuru Kururu Police Outpost. Residents are dissatisfied with the service being offered by the police at that location during the nights. On different occasions calls for help were in vain, as there is often one police rank on duty - and if it
is not the lack of manpower it’s the unavailability of a vehicle. Many residents would attest to ‘cat sleeping’ as there are often movements outside and prolonged barking by dogs which would keep them up peering through their windows from time to time, and making frantic calls to neighbours and to the police outpost. Break-ins are not the only unsettling aspect of the terror, they are also afraid to be attacked on the streets, as in the past persons were held at gunpoint and robbed. According to reports, strange men are seen traversing the streets during the night and sometimes in the day, as they apparently mark their next victim. One resident was said to have had appliances removed (Continued on page 28)
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Ganja farmer gets three years for trafficking When he told the court he was a farmer, almost everyone seated in the courtroom presumed that he was involved in planting fruits and vegetables. But surprisingly, 25-yearold Clifford Nathaniel told the court that he grows marijuana because he wants to “get li’l money.” This farmer will now have to find a way to make that money from behind the walls of the Camp Street prison, after he was jailed for three years yesterday after pleading guilty to a narcotics charge. Nathaniel admitted to City Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts that on August 23, at Monkey Mountain, Rupununi, he had 18 grammes of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. In addition to the jail term, he was ordered to pay a fine $30,000. When asked by the
Magistrate if he had anything to say before sentencing, Nathaniel told the court, “This drug is my own. I does plant it. Is not nuff though, this is the fuss time I trying this.” Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, told the court that on the day in question, around 15:25hrs, the police visited a community in the Monkey Mountain area, in relation to a report of disorderly behaviour being committed by Nathaniel. Jones related that the man was taken into police custody and a search was carried out on his person. A quantity of leaves, seeds and
Jailed: Clifford Nathaniel stems of cannabis sativa (marijuana) were found in his left side pants pocket in a white bag.
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Kaieteur News
Friday August 28, 2015
National Service Reunion…
Granger urges ex-members to look to future for youth development Last Wednesday saw the convening of ex- Guyana National Service (GNS) members for only the second time since the organisation’s dissolution. There were persistent calls for National Service to be reintroduced, but President David Granger urged the group to instead look to the future rather than the past. The President also encouraged the ex-members to take ten months to come up with an alternative plan, geared to making youths more self-sufficient and entrepreneurial in their outlook. Granger pointed to a lack of this, as well as shortfalls in Education, as the real problem of youth unemployment and underdevelopment. Ex-members of the GNS arrived in Guyana, mainly from the United States of America, for the grand reunion, since Sunday. Dozens of ex-members of the GNS gathered at the Carifesta Sports Complex for the event,
President Granger addressing ex-members of the Guyana National Service
where ideas were shared on what role the organisation can play in youth development. There, members shared their views on what can be done to deal with social issues affecting the country’s youths, According to Granger, too many youths have fallen prey
to the social ills of society and he stated that a lot of talent is being wasted by having youths locked away in correctional facilities for minor offences, hence his order soon after taking office, releasing dozens of youths convicted of minor offences from prison.
“The big problem facing this country and young people is not the absence of national service. It’s poverty,” the President said. Recognising this, the President said the cycle of
poverty must be broken and one sure way of doing so is by affording children access to education. “My analysis is that the major cause of poverty is the education system; the poor
education. Many of us started off life poor but we were able to escape from poverty because we decided to educate ourselves, and that is what National Service did,” Granger added. Against this backdrop, Granger said his administration will continue to make education a priority by ensuring that every child has easy access to education and that equal opportunities are created. The recent event was among a series of activities, which started on August 22, in observance of the second GNS local and overseas chapters’ reunion. The forum afforded members to put forward ideas, which would see the organisation playing a greater role in overall youth development, while at the same time, addressing social ills of society. The last such reunion was held in 2012.
Residents call for increase... (From page 27) from the bottom flat of her two-storey home. Another woman said that she was awoken by a strange noise; she immediately shouted “who is that?” Her being awake forced the perpetrators to abort their mission - dropping her television set which they had already removed from its location. Her back- door was the source of entry. The matter was reported to the Police. Meanwhile, quite a few residents in the Kuru Kururu Squatting area
reported, that items which only petty thieves would steal were taken from their homes. It is unclear whether the perpetrators hail from within that area, as over the years persons from other communities would have taken up residency there. However, there was a tip-off that three men were transported in the wee hours some weeks ago, with large bags, which were later discovered to be stolen items by an unsuspecting bus driver. During a conversation with the driver, the men
revealed that they are from the West Bank of Demerara. When contacted, police at the Kuru Kururu outpost were unable to comment on the issue. Kaieteur News was told that there are six ranks - one Corporal and five constables - stationed at the newly reconstructed police outpost. Even as frustration continues to build up with residents, they are calling for more police at the outpost to step up operations in the village; to restore tranquility to the once peaceful community.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
U.S. Congress looks to boost ties with new Govt.
The US Congress delegation and Embassy officials meeting with Minister Harmon and his team yesterday. A delegation from the U.S. Congress says that it is here to promote a better working relationship with Guyana. The disclosures were made during a meeting yesterday with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. The delegation was headed by Staff Director on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Mark Walker, and included Sadaf Khan and Tom Alexander. They were accompanied by Chargé D’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Bryan Hunt. Walker, according to the Ministry of the Presidency, explained that his committee also houses the majority of the staff from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs. He said that the team felt that “it was time to visit Guyana”, adding that “it’s been way too long since a delegation from the US Congress has visited. He also felt that the timing was right with the swearing in of a new President, Parliament and Government”. Walker noted that the intention was to extend a hand of friendship; to foster and promote a better working relationship, and encourage better bilateral relations. He emphasized the bi-partisan composition of the delegation and their interest in meeting a wide cross-section of the Guyanese society.
He pointed out that it was important to interact with the Ministry of the Presidency generally, and the Minister of State – particularly in pursuit of the delegation’s objectives. Meanwhile, Harmon expressed his pleasure in welcoming the delegation, and alluded to the very close working relationship between the governments of Guyana and the US through the local embassy here. He conveyed the hope that this visit by the bi-partisan delegation from the U.S Congress would foster greater understanding and would open new vistas and opportunities for collaboration and cooperation.
“Please, help me get my grandchild... From page 16 something like that,” she stressed. Chabieram is unsure of her next step. She hopes to return to French Guiana to try her luck once more, but this time she is hoping to gain the support of the Guyanese authorities. She believes that the child is being held due to the circumstances surrounding the father's death and possible welfare support from the Government in French Guiana. “It's the benefit she [the babysitter] holding the child
for. There is no real love for Ariel, and I don't know what she's going through,” Chabieram said. She further said that she constantly attempts to speak with the babysitter and even placed a call last Sunday. “But she won't answer. I just want to know that Ariel is fine and I want a relationship with my granddaughter,” she said. An emotional Chabieram continued, “This entire thing is really affecting me; my daughter died and that baby was small and we are her only
relatives. She doesn't have a mother, she doesn't have a father and I don't see how a complete stranger is fighting for our child.” Currently, Chabieram takes care of 4-year-old Arianna and another one of her daughter's children, six-year-old Brianna. But 2-year-old Ariel is still constantly on her mind. “We are her only family. That is my grandchild and her two other sisters are here. I want my third granddaughter to grow up in a home of love and where there is actual family,” she said.
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SALON
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Building or Renovating? For quality services at affordable cost - Contact: 592-682-9935 or email: creativeconstructionservice 15@gmail.com. Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. PARTY DECORATING: balloon creation, back drops etc. for weddings, birthdays, anniversary etc. Make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES,AIR-CONDITIONERS, WASHINGMACHINES,TVS, MICROWAVES,FREEZERSCALL:629-4946 OR 225-4822 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission - Call: 650-4362 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Looking for a good plumber? Contact: 675-6466, specialized in pressure pumps, water heaters and filter systems. Eagle’s fridge re-gas @ 99100 New Market Street $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 2235818 Desmond Repair Services Fridge, AC, gas stove, microwave, washer, etc on the spot repairs –Call: (592)6788683; 687-9709 Licensed Custom Broker/tax consultant: tax compliance certificates, assistance with customs documentationsCall: 660-9478 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.comCall : 225-6496, 662-6045 School Bus from E.B.D to G/Town and back, so get your children on board - Call: 687-3017
WANTED Driver with conductor for RZ minibus, fully serviced, route 42, preferably from Grove/ Diamond area. Tel: 662-3073; 216-1866 Experienced Driver Apply @ Hack’s Halaal Restaurant with written application, 5 Commerce Street Part- time driver! Wednesday, Thursday & Friday – 1pm8:00p, Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-8:00pm – Contact: 643-5838; 223-3574 Domestic from G/Town 2-3 day per week age: 30-45yrs – Call: 641-3687 Contract Cars & Drivers Call: 227-1720, 227-1721 or 660-6102 Waitress to work on E.C.D, live in – Call: 220-1842 or 691-5518 Female caregiver for elderly female to work from 7:30am5pm, Monday –Saturday @ Residence, Pouderoyen, WBD –Call: 647-6075 Office assistant to keep records-Call: 660-9478 from 9am -4pm Live in maid/assistant salesgirl, E.C.D- Call: 6035416; 644-9802 Young couple looking to purchase property $12M Max within Georgetown/East Coast Demerara up to Lusignan –Tel: 622-6710 Dispatcher at Gem’s Taxi Service (Shift Work)- Tel: 231-3709; 233-2537 Drivers and contract carsTel:231-0316; 231-0002; 2194087
Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Salon & Spa @ Aracari Resort! Available Now: Hollywood herbal skin whitening cream, scrub & sun block. Phone: 264-3312 or 600-3927
WANTED 2yrs Experienced Seamstress – knowledge: flat/ over lockers/ Serger machines, meeting of deadlines/target a must- Contact: 270-1332 6am6pm & 645-5533 6pm-? 1 Female to work in snackette & bar. Must know to cookbetween ages 20-35 -Call: 647-7432/ 223-5798 One live in maid must know to cook – Contact: 677-8484 One male store clerk, apply to K&B Mining Hardware Supplies, Lot 152 Church Street, Alberttown , Georgetown. Experienced bartenderContact: 684-1657 Security to work at a mining firm must have military experienced –Contact: 2269768; 661-5307 One puri maker – Call: 2269561 1 Live in waitteress, must be honest and courteous, secondary education required. Salary $60,000 monthly -Call: 6103974
Live-in maid or waitress to work in Mahicony River-Call: 225-6571, 644-6905 Porters; Age: 18-30- Contact: 225-8066 Handyman to work on farm, preferably family person, live in accommodation –Call: 6199143; 614-8857
One cook to cook for family in the interior –Contact: 6778484. Part time handy man at Tudor’s Business, Linden, age 18-22 years –Call: 4445883 Wanted one person to work on a ranch to take care of cattle & sheep-Call: 619-9143, 614-8857 Live in couple husband: driving & mechanical skills, Welding & fabricating, grill & wife: Demestic. Excellent rates offered. Call: 227-1830 Boat work –Call: 666-2101
VEHICLE FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
1 Mazda Axela, PTT series, low mileage, e x c e l l e n t condition -owner migrating Tel: 649-0956 SmartChoiceAuto:Premio,Allion, Fielder, Carina 212, Bluebird Call: 652-3820; 665-4529 In Stock @ First Class Auto: 08 Premio, Allion, Runx, Axio, Bluebird, Sienta, Fielder, Rush –Tel: 609-8188, 638-3045 1 Nissan Titan 05, 4WD, AC/ Mags/HID, Toyota Vitz R5 (stick gear), 1496CC AC/ Mags/HID- Call: 216-1574; 644-0447
Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.
1 Yamaha R6 (600cc) price to go, Mitsubishi canter 4D32, long tray (20ft) open back – Call: 216-1574; 644-0447 For Sales: Bus BRR 2501, 19 Seater pit-bull – Contact: 6893173 or 614-3947 Unregistered Toyota Premio 2003, & Spacio 2004 –Call: 681-7117 or 227-5950 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 2000 Freightliner hauler, C12 Engine –Tel: 609-7257; 689-9041 BMW 320i, Toyota AT212, AT192, IST, EP-71 Starlet, 4 Runner, Canter, Honda 600 RR -Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 Tractor Massey Ferguson, from Canada – MF165 $1.7M, MF265-$2.1M, MF135 -$1.1M, Ranger Pick Up Truck -$1.4M –Call: 682-5230; 628-9596 EP 82 Starlet, AC 4 Doors, working standard rims, lady driven – good condition $550,000 – serious inquiries only - Call: 662-5052
One honest, single, reliable live in domestic with no health problem- Call: 6508632 between 9:00am -7:00pm
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up- Call: 690-6494 FOR SALE/RENT American pool tables –Call: 277-0578
Friday August 28, 2015
Republic Park Phase 1- $48M, Prashad Nagar -$49M, 4 bedrooms -Call:609-2302, 6452580, 609-6516, House for sale @ Lot 180 Block 8 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Price $25M negotiable –Call: 266-0309; 626-6555 Property for sale, business place at Kuru kururu, New Town on High Way- Call: 261-6282 or 676-4787 Pearl: Well built 1,995 SF concrete building on 58X165 lot, formerly used at meeting halls-$13.5M-Tel: 649-1670 2 Storey House at 33 Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt (2 lots away from Royal Castle) -$25M negotiable –Call: 6609309 2-story concrete house on double lot. ECD. $28.5M Tel: 661-9431 Transported concrete, Block “8” Mon Repos E.C.D, top flat 2 bedrooms, bottom flat 2 bedrooms- $18M. Call: 6251514 office hours 231-7255 Property for sale, East La Penetance Arapaima Street $17M negotiable –Call: 6484420, 662-6173 One 3 bedrooms 2 storey concrete house @ 8 Street Foulis H/Scheme –Call: 2563360 or 685-8485 Four Bedroom House No73 Public Road, Corentyne Berbice- Suitable For Private Residence or Commercial Use- Contact 335-3347 / 6266245 Are you interested in selling your home? Call T &T Realty: 660-9478; 672-0865 North Ruimveldt- 2 Storey Wooden and Concrete house –price $9M-Call: 653-8082
VEHICLE FOR SALE
One fully loaded Toyota Raum with double sunroof, CD/MP3 player, full flair kit, etc - $1.4M negotiable – Tel: 610-4980
Toyota RAV 4, excellent condition, leather interior, manual gear # PHH 2748 – Call: 684-6794; 621-4976
6X6 TM with 4,500 GLS fuel tank, free maintenance schedule -$6M- Call: 6706521/ 685-0166
60 Seater Bluebird bus, brand new, air conditioned, electronic doors (front & back) for schools/ church etc –Call: 675-3062 LEARN TO DRIVE
One double Axle DAF truck for sale –Call: 612-5484, serious enquiries only, please! One Honda Civic, ESI model –Tel: 647-9338, 231-0849
One 318 BMW never registered for $ 3M down payment $500,000 contact # 650-0402 or 616-0429 One welding machine- Call: 687-7725 250 Rebel Motorcycle, one 250 nighthawk motorcycle, one Toyota 4X4 pickup for more information contact: 662-8715; 680-1198; 7715388-87 Fertilizer! 100% soluble fertilizer: potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate 20:20:220, also plant seed and soil. info@shigam.cm /Tel 6968538 One Honda D15-B Engine & Transmission –Contact: 645-8518 for info Galvanized nail platesContact: 645-8518 1 Complete six inch dredge inclusive of pick up and ATVprice 6,000,000-Contact: 6600422 XBOX 360 slim: 250GB & 320GB with games & controllers also PS4 with game & Controller-Call: 6838386 Back to School Sale: Dell/ HP laptop & desktop computers complete, from $55,000, free games and educational software @ Future – Call: 231-2206 1-16 inched Bore precisionly built pump on trailer –New $1.2M only, 1-8X8X4ft box Trailer. Call: 227-1830 One male and female pure bred German shepherd dogs –Contact: 654-6355 52ft complete cabin cruiser. In excellent condition- Tel: 592-654-2817, 592-622-2958. 1 Toyota Marino, PHH Series. Call: 675-7667
1 Model M Truck with winch, big tire- Call: 692-9577; 6192406 PNN Toyota Raum, Alarm system, AC, 15" Rims, good condition- $1M- Call: 6177113
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 6895997
German Shepherd pups. Tel: 619-6086, 699-7077 House and land at Diamond Housing Scheme, E.B.D – Price $7.5M –Call: 687-9107 Steel Fuel tank (holds 90 drums fuel) 6X6 TM ChassisCall: 670-6521; 685-0166 1 Imported pools table for sale-Call: 223-5273/4 Quality pine cupboard doors –Contact: 621-1278 FOR RENT 2 Properties @ Bel-Air Park all convenience , furnished US-1800 & 4 bedrooms unfurnished US2,200, newly renovated –Tel:231-7839 (working hours) Continued on page 31
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Another unidentified body found on seawall Two days after the remains of an unidentified dreadlocked man were removed from the seawall ‘round house’ in the Kingston environs, the body of yet another man has been removed from the seawall. Yesterday around 07: 45 hrs undertakers from the Lyken Funeral Home removed the corpse from between the rocks on the seawall in the vicinity of the Carifesta Sports Complex. According to reports, the shirtless man, sporting an afro hair style, was dressed in a pair of jeans, and no other item of clothing was found in the vicinity. The body bore signs of an injury to the head. It is believed that the distinguishable mark may have resulted from him hitting his head on one of the rocks, resulting in his demise. Some speculate that the man, believed to be in his early 40s, may have gone to
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EDUCATION I.A.E currently registering students for full time secondary school, lessons & evening CXC classes for adults- Call: 683-5742 Writing CXC, Add Maths, Eng, Bio, Human & Social Biology, IntegratedSciences in Jan/June, Form 1, 2,3,4,5 & worker/mature person-Call: 227-7850
A man points to the spot where the body was found the water side to relieve himself, slipped, fell and hit his head. Meanwhile, sources at the
Camp St. Prison inmates stabbed during feud A feud early yesterday morning between inmates at the Camp Street prison has ended with two being injured. According to reports, Delon Gordon, 28, of Bent Street, who is currently serving an 83-year jail term for murdering his girlfriend in 2011, was stabbed in the knee by fellow inmate John Burnett. Kaieteur News was told that the two men had earlier in the day engaged in an argument which initially led to yesterday’s attack. Another inmate, Jamal
Cromwell, 21, of Dowding Street, was also injured. Cromwell claimed that he had no part in the misunderstanding between Gordon and Burnett. He explained that he was standing in proximity to the two men, speaking with a prison officer, when Burnett, armed with a knife, approached and stabbed Gordon, before turning the knife on him. Cromwell was stabbed once in the stomach and another time to the back. Investigations are going.
Lyken Funeral Home have confirmed that the body of the dreadlocked man picked up at the Kingston ‘round house’ two days prior remains unidentified.
If the body remains unidentified for an extended period of time it will be buried with instructions from the police after efforts to find a relative are exhausted.
Alpha Foundation: Register Now in Region 3, Child care, caring for the elderly, cosmetology & cake decoration- Phone 264-1052/ 663-7930 Lessons: Maths, English, Accounts, Physics, Social Studies and office Administration, Location: Campbellville –Contact: 6106087
VACANCY Tudor ’s Business Enterprise, Linden has vacancy for 3 sales attendants; age 25yrs & above-Tel: 444-5883 Experienced night bar attendant ages 30-40 @ Cool Square Restaurant/ Bar 30 West Ruimveldt H/E apply within. One experienced legal computer clerk- Phone: 6247087 or 258-0213 Bartenders & Waitress for Sports bar in V/Hoop- Contact: 684-5688 for more info Confidential Cabs have vacancy for a experienced dispatcher-Call: 231-4000 or 231-8601 Carnegie trained assistant chef/cook. Call: 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff Street Male Supervisor for housekeeping Dept. Male Security guard - Call:2250198 or 233 South Raod Lacytown.
TO LET House for rent furnish $80,000 monthly –Call: 6881342 2-Two bedroom apartment for rent Mon Repos North, East Coast Demerara, price $60,000 –Call: 689-0123, 688-6005 Newly built 3 bedrooms, upper flat concrete house @ 11 St. Diamond H/Scheme$80,000 negotiable –Tel: 6292265
Waitress for bar live in or out - Call: 612-2522 Supervisor to work at Xenon Hotel in Charity, send application to rtilak@adamantiumholdings.com Office clerk, porters, apply at Survival Wholesale Depot, Lot 10 Vlissengen Road
Rooms for person 50yrs and over – Tel: 628-3838 or 699-2727 Three bedrooms house at Dennis Street Sophia -$85,000 - Call: 621-7366
LAND FOR SALE $1.2M Parfaite Harmonie (80ftX50ft), $2.8M Diary (100ftX50ft), already & newly fenced, Zeelugt $1.5M Call: 611-7223; 604-2207 Land @ Parfaite Harmonie & Tuschen -$1.5M, $1.3M Call: 604-6724 Land for sale at Farm E.B.D – Tel: 219-5526 ACCOMODATION Specials on room! Free breakfast, Wi-Fi luxuriously & comfortably @ Signature Inn, 82 Laluni Street, Georgetown - Tel: 226-2145; 227-5037
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 3 Bedrooms upper flat apartment at Lot 29 Station Street Kitty – Call: 692-2583 Furnished salon to rent on East Bank, interested persons please call: 698-6075 Commercial Space for rent at Lot 12 North Road – Call: 6628715, 680-1198 Furnished AC Barber Shop and business space on Durban Street G/Town near Smyth Street- Call: 682-6396 2 Bedrooms apartment available from September 1, 2015- Call: 681-4275 Hair Motion’s Salon: Nails & Hair Stations to rent -$6,000 –Tel: 670-4644
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Greek judge appointed caretaker PM ahead of elections Reuters - Greece’s top Supreme Court judge was sworn in as caretaker prime minister yesterday to lead the country to elections next month, ending a week of political deadlock after leftist leader Alexis Tsipras resigned. Vassiliki Thanou, an opponent of austerity who has argued against wage cuts for judges and court officials, and her new interim government will remain in place at least until parliamentary elections are held, expected to be on Sept. 20. “I’m especially happy because I’m receiving the first woman prime minister in the history of the Greek democracy, and this is an important step,” Tsipras told Thanou at a handover ceremony at the prime ministerial mansion. Her appointment ends a week of fruitless negotiations as top opposition party leaders took turns at trying to form a government, exercising a constitutional right that takes effect if a prime minister resigns within a year of being elected. The process dragged on
for a week as the main conservative opposition and then the far-left Popular Unity party both used their allotted three days in full despite having no chance of success, hoping to delay the election. The conservatives said everything had to be done to avoid a new round of elections that Greece did not need. The country has to implement a new round of austerity measures and reforms agreed with its creditors as part of its 86 billion-euro bailout, and also deal with an unprecedented inflow of migrants. “The caretaker government’s duties are mainly holding the elections in a fair and smooth fashion. Given the circumstances, however, I believe this government will be called upon to tackle critical issues such as, for example, the immigration issue, and, maybe, some others,” Thanou told Tsipras at the handover ceremony. The names of Thanou’s ministers will be officially announced on Friday. Greek media said the role of interim finance minister
would go to George Chouliarakis, a senior official in Greece’s debt negotiating team. Popular Unity leader Panagiotis Lafazanis - whose rebel far-left faction broke away from Tsipras’s Syriza party last week, taking a sixth of its lawmakers with him - used his three days to air his anti-bailout message before handing back the mandate on Thursday. Tsipras remains hugely popular in Greece despite making a U-turn to accept the bailout programme, and opposition parties feel a longer campaign period offers a better chance of denting his popularity as austerity cuts start kicking in. Syriza is expected to once again emerge as the biggest party in parliament when the snap election is held. But Tsipras is not expected to secure an absolute majority, forcing him to find a coalition partner, f a i l i n g w h i c h a second round of elections could be held. “In other words what? Elections again in October, if the Independent Greeks do not make it to parliament?”
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UK immigration hits record high, causing headache for Cameron Reuters - Long-term net migration to Britain has hit a record high, underscoring the challenge Prime Minister David Cameron faces to dispel voter fears that immigrants are straining public services such as housing, hospitals and schools. As an island nation off northwest Europe, Britain is far from the frontline of the EU-wide crisis that has seen hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees pour into the bloc this year via countries like Italy, Greece and Hungary. The bigger problem for Cameron is his inability to limit immigration by European Union passport-holders, as freedom of movement is enshrined in the EU’s founding treaties. Arrivals from countries like India and China are also on the rise. Official data yesterday showed a net 330,000 people moved to Britain in the year to March 2015, up 40 percent on the same period a year ago. A net 183,000 came from within the EU, up by 53,000. The quarterly figures have become a regular source
of political embarrassment for Cameron, who has insisted he is still working towards a declared overall target of less than 100,000. Curbing migrants’ access to welfare benefits in order to deter them from coming to Britain is a key objective for the Conservative prime minister as he renegotiates the country’s relationship with the EU before putting its continued membership to a public vote by the end of 2017. Immigration minister James Brokenshire said the latest data was “deeply disappointing”. “While these figures underline the challenges we need to meet to reduce net migration, they should also act as a further wake-up call for the EU. Current flows of people across Europe are on a scale we haven’t seen since the end of the Second World War,” he said in a statement Rising immigration has fuelled support for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) which wants to sever ties with the EU and impose much tighter entry rules. “These figures reflect
Borderless Britain and total impotence of the British government,” UKIP leader Nigel Farage said, calling for Cameron to negotiate tighter border controls with the EU. The debate has intensified in recent months, with the huge influx into EU of migrants and refugees fleeing poverty and war in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. Images of thousands of migrants camped in the French port of Calais seeking illegal passage to Britain on board trains and lorries have led news bulletins for much of the summer. The data showed that asylum applications had risen by 10 percent but, at 25,771 in the year ending June 2015, remained low in comparison to other channels of migration and well below their 2002 peak of 84,132. A total of 11,600 people were granted asylum or an alternative form of protection. In the same period, China and India accounted for the largest share of those granted visas to come to Britain from outside the EU, followed by the United States.
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Public Security budget falls short Boat packed with migrants sinks off of public expectation - PPP Libya; up to 200 feared dead
- Denies 20% increase for Police, does not cater for smart street safe city initiative By Abena Rockcliffe The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) did not squander the opportunity presented on Wednesday evening to grill the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan on allocations set aside in the National Budget for his Ministry. Abundant questions were aimed at Ramjattan, with the bulk of it coming from former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. While deliberations on budgetary allocations are only supposed to attract questions, PPP members expressed comments to the effect that allocations for the Ministry were lacking when it comes to dealing with the task ahead—reducing crime—and have fallen short of the public expectations. The failed expectations referred to include salary increases. The PPP said that policemen and women expected a 20 percent salary increase as promised by the APNU+AFC coalition during the elections campaign. Instead, the budget only caters for a five percent increase, nothing different to what was offered by the PPP administration in recent years. Whether hypocritical in judgment or not, the PPP pointed out that policemen and women were expecting a better life from such an increase. During his recent speech in the National Assembly in the midst of budget debate, Minister Ramjattan spoke of a demoralized police force. He listed five factors that contributed to such a phenomenon including lack of training, reduced leave and scarce promotion, but he did not note the low salary offered to police as one of these reasons. The minister totally ignored this fact. It was former Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, who first pointed out that the allocations set aside for increase in salaries for lawmen and women is inadequate compared to what was promised. When questioned, Ramjattan admitted that the allocations only represent a five percent increase, delivering 25 percent of what was promised. When Ramjattan made the admission, sarcastic outcries poured from the PPP benches. Members shouted things like, “Really! Only five percent, not 20; oh my God this is shocking and Oww dem police gon really be sad.”
Ramjattan responded, “no not 20, five, but this is something we are speaking to the Ministry of Finance about.” Ramjattan was made to answer several other questions. Rohee was first to spring to his feet when the Ministry came up for scrutiny. At one point Rohee posed about 10 consecutive questions before handing the baton to one of his colleagues. The former Minister asked about equipment sourced for the forensic lab, staff for the lab, liaison officers and so forth. Gail Teixeira questioned the money allocated for training of police “especially at a time when crime is on the rise.” She said that she did not think the money allocated for training was enough but Ramjattan “begged to differ.” Indeed, during his budget speech, Ramjattan had told the House that more needs to be done in the area of training. He said that this is an area where the PPP had fallen short as the former Minister, Rohee, denied many ranks the opportunity to train abroad. Ramjattan spoke as well about a plan to put the City on camera. He had told the House that government will install CCTV cameras on every city street as part of its plans to address the country’s escalating crime Ramjattan said that under Phase Two of the Citizens Security Programme (CSP), government has formulated an emergency smart street safe city programme that will see the installation of over 100 CCTV cameras in and around the city, where over 50 percent of crimes are committed. Additionally, he said the strategy includes the construction of a command centre, where the footage would be monitored. The impression was given that money was already set aside for this initiative as Ramjattan did not state in the House that the initiative was in its embryonic stage. Therefore, the Minister was questioned as to directions where allocations for this project could have been found in the budget; this question was posed by former junior Minister of Finance, Juan Edghill. It was only then the Minister indicated that the CCTV cameras proposal had to first get the backing of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to ensure that funding could be made available for the purchasing
- 50 refugees were found dead in a parked lorry in Austria
Former Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill of the cameras and the construction of the command centre. Even though Ramjattan had indicated before that the initiative falls under the citizens security programme, he did not state that the IDB—which funds the programme—was yet to approve the change. After that was noted, Edghill told Kaieteur News that Ramjattan, “jumped the gun, he was not supposed to make such an announcement until the programme is approved…the IDB can take a long time to approve it or can choose not to.” Other questions posed to Ramjattan included one from Dharamkumar Seeraj, who asked whether Ramjattan was sending a wrong message to the public by employing the services of private security guards when his ministry controls the police force. Ramjattan responded, “that was inherited my friend.”
Reuters - A boat packed with mainly African migrants bound for Italy sank off the Libyan coast yesterday and officials said up to 200 might have died. A security official in the western town of Zuwara, from where the overcrowded boat had set off, said there had around 400 people on board. Many appeared to have been trapped in the hold when it capsized. By late in the evening, the Libyan coast guard rescued around 201, of which 147 were brought to a detention facility for illegal migrants in Sabratha, west of Tripoli, the official said, asking not to be named.Another local official and a journalist based in Zuwara confirmed the sinking but also had no information on casualties. The migrants on board had been from sub-Saharan Africa, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco and Bangladesh, the security official said. The Italian coast guard, which has been coordinating rescue operations with the European Union off the Libyan coast, could not immediately confirm a sinking. Libya’s coast guard has very limited capabilities, relying on small inflatables, tug boats and fishing vessels. Zuwara, Libya’s most western town located near the Tunisian border, is a major launchpad for smugglers shipping migrants to Italy.
Libya has turned into a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty to make it to Europe. Crossborder smuggler networks exploit the country’s lawlessness and chaos to bring Syrians into Libya via Egypt or nationals of subSaharan countries via Niger, Sudan and Chad. More than 2,300 people have died this year in attempts to reach Europe by boat, compared with 3,279 during the whole of last year, according to the International Organisation for Migration. As many as 50 refugees were found dead in a parked lorry in Austria near the Hungarian border Wednesday, and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel said the discovery had shaken European leaders discussing the migrant crisis at a Balkans summit. Libya has been struggling to cope with an influx of migrants, putting them in overcrowded makeshift detention facilities such as schools or military barracks where they live in poor conditions lacking medical care. The North African country used to deport migrants it caught but with fighting between armed groups having cut off land border crossings to Niger, Algeria and Chad many stay months or years in detention facilities.
Reuters - The United States said yesterday it had asked Uzbekistan to join the multinational coalition it leads against Islamic State, saying Central Asia’s most populous state was free to choose a way of contributing to the fight against the militant group. “We have asked Uzbekistan ... to join the coalition,” Daniel Rosenblum,
U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Central Asia, told reporters during a visit to the Uzbek capital. Uzbekistan, a mainly Muslim nation with a population of 31 million, has been a strategic NATO partner in post-Soviet Central Asia, assisting a U.S.-led war on the purist Taliban movement in neighbouring Afghanistan.
U.S. asks Uzbekistan to join anti-Islamic State coalition
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Friday August 28, 2015
Taylor takes triple-jump gold Malone guides Fishermen with second-longest ever leap Petama Enterprise/ Motor Trend Softball...
Masters to victory
A fine half century from Ramo Malone guided Fishermen XI to a four-wicket victory over Floodlight when the Petama Enterprise/ Motor Trend softball competition continued last weekend. Malone struck 71 as Fishermen XI successfully chased 126, ending on 128-6 in 18 overs at Demerara Cricket Club. Wayne Jones, Clyde Canterbury and Greg De Franca claimed two wickets each for Floodlight who had earlier scored 126-7 off their allotted 20 overs. Yunnis Yusuf made 37; Malone captured 3-11. Floodlight rebounded to beat Savage Masters by five wickets. Batting first, Savage scored 172-8 in 20 overs. Wallack Joseph slammed 68, Herbie Jentle made 31 and Kenmark Luke 25; Mike Singh snared 4-22. Floodlight responded with 174-5 in 19.4 overs. Nadram Samlall stroked 84 not out and Faizal Ally hit 24. Randolph Pereira had 3-14 and Arjune Persaud 2-36. Herstelling Raiders overcame Brickery Super Stars by eight wickets. Super Stars took first strike and managed 139 all out in 17 overs. K. Wilke hit 40 and R. Mangar 27. Ralph Yusuf grabbed 4-18 and Budram Baksh 3-20. Raiders responded with 140-2. Shameer Fazal cracked 64 and Baksh 32. Raiders beat Princess Hotel by 32 runs.
Raiders posted 204 all out in 20 overs, taking first knock. Rawl Reid smashed 64 while Fazal made 34. Shafik Ishmael and D. Muir picked up two wickets apiece. Princess Hotel were bowled out for 172 in reply. Ishmael made 36; Baksh took 2-33. At GNIC SC, Park Rangers got the better of Regal Masters by six wickets. Regal Masters batted first and scored 138-8 in 20 overs. Rudolph Baker struck 49, Mahase Chunilall 48; Ryan Singh bagged 4-19 and Mohamed Rafeek 2-20. Park Rangers responded with 139-4 in 17 overs. Rafeek led with 44 while Talesh Ramoutar made 37 and Rudy Rodrigues 23; Mahendra Hardyal claimed 2-13. The competition continues on Sunday at DCC with De Hoop facing Together Brothers at 09:30hrs, Farm playing De Hoop at 12:00hrs and Fisherman Masters matching skills with Enterprise Legends at 14:00hrs on pitch one. Farm will play Princess Hotel at 09:30hrs, Together Brothers will challenge Brickery Super Stars at 12:00hrs and Park Rangers will entertain Savage Masters at 14:00 hrs on pitch two. Due to teams being unable to field full squads in the Master’s category the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association has decided to allow each team a maximum of three players born on or before 1974.
Friday August 28, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Be careful not to get roped into uncertain joint financial deals. Your need to put great detail into everything you do may cause you to miss the overall picture. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Children may be difficult to handle. Don't lend or borrow. Don't allow personal problems to conflict with professional duties. GEMINI (MAY 22JUNE 21) After all, they may have valuable information to pass on. Entertainment should include your whole family. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Don't let your family put demands on you. Someone you live with is ready to play emotional games. Throw yourself into your work. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Romance may be better than you ever thought possible. Career changes may not be your choice right now, but in the long run they will be to your advantage. VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) Romance will be on your mind, and chances for ideal connections are in the works.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 OCT. 23) Someone around you may not be trustworthy. You might find that delays will cause setbacks and upset. Travel may change your attitudes with regard to your philosophy. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) You may find that your plans will cost a little more than you had expected. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) You can make financial gains through your unique and creative approach to business. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Your willingness to help others can and will lead to fatigue if you don't learn to say no. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 -FEB. 19) Don't let relatives get the better of you. You will need to work diligently in order to accomplish even the smallest amount. PISCES (FEB. 20MAR. 20) You may find that your documents are not in order. Don't let your emotions interfere with your professional integrity. Avoid extravagance or risky financial schemes.
American Christian Taylor produced the second-longest triple jump in history as he soared 18.21 meters to take gold in a high-quality world championship competition yesterday. In a week of outstanding head-to-heads in the Bird’s Nest Stadium, the men’s triple jump final always promised to be among the best and it did not disappoint. Taylor and Cuba’s Pedro Pichardo came to Beijing having between them produced the 10 best marks of 2015, with the Cuban leading the way with 18.08m. Taylor delivered the coup de grace with his sixth and final jump, landing just short of the 18.29m world record that has stood to Britain’s Jonathan Edwards since the 1995 world championships. Edwards, who was watching the contest at the stadium, later tweeted to Taylor: “You gave me a scare my friend!! Brilliant performance.” Jumping last, Pichardo too had his best jump in the sixth round but his silver medal-winning 17.73 seemed modest compared with what the packed stadium had just witnessed. The bronze medal was also won by a last-round jump as Nelson Evora, of Portugal, the Olympic gold medalist in the Bird’s Nest Stadium seven years ago, cleared 17.52 to snatch third place from Omar Craddock, the American who had moved into medal positions with a 17.37 effort in the penultimate round. The event had been competitive from the beginning. Taylor took the outright lead for the first time with his fourth-round jump before achieving a U.S. national record with his final leap. Taylor, 25, from North Carolina, who had previously won the world title in 2011, said: “It was a great fight. “When you’re that close to a record, it just makes you even hungrier for the next time you compete. “This is all just gearing up to Rio.” Pichardo, 23, the world number one going into the final, was desperately disappointed. “I feel so upset and disappointed,” he told reporters. “I did not feel 100 percent OK and I could not get into my speed. “I really expected longer jumps and even attacking record marks. I thought I was going to get it together, but I was just not fast enough.” For Evora, it was a third worldchampionships medal, following a silver in 2009 and winning gold in 2007. “I couldn’t be happier with a bronze medal,” the
American athlete Christian Taylor won triple jump goal at the World Championships in Beijing. Portuguese said. “I’ve had a tough year. My heart made
the difference (Reuters)
today.”
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Sprint sweep for brilliant Bolt in Beijing Usain Bolt delivered when it mattered again yesterday when he scorched the fastest time of the year to win a record fourth straight world 200 meters title in 19.55 seconds and sweep the individual sprints at a global championships for a fifth time. Five days after beating Justin Gatlin to win the 100 meters, the 29-year-old Olympic champion and world record holder again proved too strong for the in-form American, who finished second in 19.74. “Well done Usain,” Bolt told reporters. “I am just happy, I told you guys I would do it. There was no doubt. I was not really focused on time. I knew I was not in the shape for a world record.” Bolt, who had run only one race at the distance coming into the championships after an
injury-disrupted season, was in control from the start. The 29-year-old got out of the blocks quicker than the usually explosive Gatlin on his inside and was ahead halfway round the bend before the American picked up speed and briefly looked like he might threaten the champion. Puffing his cheeks out and swinging his arms high, though, Bolt pulled away down the home straight for an ultimately comfortable victory, thumping his chest with his fists as he crossed the line. “When it comes to the 200 meters, I am a different person,” Bolt said. “My four world championship gold medals in the 200 meters, this a big deal, a great accomplishment.” The victory gave Bolt a record-extending 10th world championship gold medal and
Messi crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe ahead of Ronaldo and Suarez
Lionel Messi (left) receives his award from Michel Platini (right) as Cristiano Ronaldo stands in the background. Lionel Messi added another individual trophy to his collection yesterday as he was voted UEFA’s Best Player in Europe for last season. The Barcelona star beat Luis Suarez, his teammate at the Champions League winner, and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in a Europe-wide poll of journalists. Messi, the four-time FIFA world player of the year, got the UEFA honor after a season-long duel with Ronaldo for the Champions League scoring record. Both resume this season on 77 goals. Messi scored 58 goals and provided 31 assists as Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League. Suarez, who scored
the decisive second goal in the 3-1 final win over Juventus, reached the shortlist despite starting his season in late-October. The Uruguay forward served a FIFA ban for biting at the 2014 World Cup. Messi is the first two-time winner after winning the inaugural award in 2010-11. Ronaldo won it last season. Germany striker Celia Sasic won the Best Women’s Player in Europe award, which is a fitting way to end her career after the 27-yearold announced her retirement last month. Sasic topped the vote ahead of German teammate Dzsenifer Marozsan and France’s Amandine Henry. (MailOnline)
After clinching another memorable gold at this year’s World Championships, Bolt enjoys his victory with supporters and takes more selfies. he could yet win an 11th as part of Jamaica’s 4x100 meter relay team on Saturday. Anasco Jobodwana took bronze in 19.87 for South Africa ahead of Panama’s Alonso Edward, who was awarded the same time but lost out on a medal by two
1,000ths of a second. Jobodwana’s time was 19.861 and Edward 19.863. “I just told myself that I was going to try for the best,” said Jobodwana, whose time was a South African record. “It always gives you energy running against (Bolt).”
Bolt and Gatlin had faced each other only once before in a 200 meters race, at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki where the American claimed his first world title in the event and teenager Bolt finished last. That was the year before
Gatlin, having just matched the 100m world record, tested positive for a banned substance for a second time and was suspended for four years. Gatlin, 33, had gone unbeaten since 2013 in both sprints coming to Beijing and his was the world leading time that Bolt bettered to take the title. “I’m the oldest man in the field and still running, running pretty well,” said Gatlin. “It feels good to go against him (Bolt). I’m just going to prepare myself for next year, for the Olympics and come out even stronger.” Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, who finished fifth in a personal best time of 20.02 at his first major championships, said: “Usain Bolt’s a legend, man. “I even doubted him a bit but Bolt is phenomenal. He knows what to do when it comes to major championships. All credit to him.” Turkey’s Ramil Guliyevs (20.11) was sixth ahead of Femi Ogunode of Qatar (20.27) with Bolt’s compatriot Nickel Ashmeade bringing up the rear in 20.33. (Reuters)
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Friday August 28, 2015
Colts romp from behind North and South E’bo to reach GABF Forbes record victories Burnham Memorial Final - Pacesetters play Half Mile Bulls in other semi-final tomorrow night
By Edison Jefford Colts romped from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat Wednesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to advance to Sunday’s final of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation Forbes Burnham Memorial Basketball Championships. Colts neutralised Linden’s Victory Valley Royals, which controlled most of the game, in the last three minutes when Rayon Cummings finished a baseline layup to eventually win 64-57, moving one step closer to their second title in three weeks. Guards, Shelroy Thomas
led with 22 points while Cummings ended with 12 points to lead Colts charge. Meanwhile, Errol Dryden had eight points while national centre, Shane Webster added seven points in the game. For Royals, Orlan Glasgow almost led his team into the final with an excellent performance that landed him 22 points. Forward, Lawrence DeCosta added 10 points with both Harold Adams and Chris Williams supporting with seven points apiece. The teams were engaged in a fierce back-and-forth offensive game before Glasgow and Williams nailed big three-point jumpers to put Royals up 37-31 at halftime. Royals’ offensive run continued when DeCosta nailed a jumper off the glass to give them their biggest lead, a 10-point 41-31 advantage. Royals maintained their double-digit lead with five minutes to play in the penultimate period that
Albert’s unbeaten... From page 40 from just 13 balls to see the hosts to a total, which completely shut out Oral Exports, which was formed in 1997 and who whose uniforms were sponsored by Republic Bank, out of the one-sided contest. The visitors play their sec-
ond game today when they face GCC at Bourda and according to their Manager, former West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan will be one of their guest players. National Under-17 legspinner Ta m e s h w a r Motiram was one of the guest players yesterday.
ended 52-45 with guard, Alwyn Rodney continuing the high percentage of field goal shooting for Royals with another three-point jumper. However, in the first five minutes of the final period, Colts upped their defensive pressure and as a result, Royals managed just three points while Webster ran riot in the paint; he converted on an attempted ‘And1’ play to haul his team to within two points, 53-55 midway through the deciding quarter. The two teams battled defensively until Cummings came up with a baseline layup that left Royals stunted. His finish tied the game at 57 with three minutes to play. Royals never scored again as Colts romped to seven points in that time. The statistics would show that Royals, which had controlled the game, comfortably winning each quarter, was kept to merely five points in the final period, easily forfeiting a chance of playing for the $100,000 first place purse on Sunday. Royals had beaten Ravens to advance to the semis, making them a favourite to reach the final. Georgetown’s Pacesetters will play Linden’s Half Mile Bulls in the other semi-final tomorrow night at the same venue. Colts will play the winner of that game Sunday in the grand final set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Sunday at 7pm.
North and South Essequibo recorded victories when the Clive Gobin Memorial Under-15 20-over cricket competition continued recently at Zorg on the Essequibo Coast. North Essequibo U15 defeated New Opportunity Corps (NOC) U15 by seven wickets. Batting first, NOC scored 92-6 after the game was reduced to 10 overs due to rain. S. Cummings scored 28 and Antonio Dindyal 17; Lance Roberts claimed 3-21 and Kemo Jones 2-10. North replied with 93-3, man of the match Sheldon Charles scored 42 and Jones 18 not out. Andrea Dindyal took 2-25. South overcame Region Two female open team by 33 runs at the said venue. South took first strike and posted 130-7 off their reduced quota of 15 overs. Twelve year-old Ken George stroked 73 with seven fours and five sixes while Adrian Arthur made 12. Natasha Boson and Davina Goberdhan picked up two wickets each. The female team was sent packing for 97 in 14.3
battling for honours in a round-robin format over the next few weeks before qualifying into the knock out rounds. Those teams include Foxy Ladies, GDF, Little Diva Flames and New Amsterdam Warriors (Group A) and Eagles United, West Side Conquerors, Demerara Queens and Kuru Kuru (Group B). The organizers said that despite their most ardent efforts they were unable to entertain teams from out of Lethem and Bartica. Nevertheless, they have committed to the development of those teams and will be making a contribution to aid in their development. The organizers also extended the hope that
those teams will be included in the tournament next year. When the action gets underway this afternoon the GDF will be at home to Foxy Ladies at 14:00hrs while at 16:00hrs the Little Divas take on New Amsterdam Warriors. At 18:00hrs, Kuru Kuru will take on West Side Conquerors while the action picks up at 20:00hrs when Eagles United clash with Demerara Queens. Four other matches are scheduled for August 30 and thereafter Kaieteur Sport will stay abreast of the other playing days. Meanwhile, a release from the organizers states that the tournament is geared at creating opportunities for local
overs in reply. Boson and Goberdhan gave them a bright start with a first wicket stand of 61, but when they were separated the rest of the batting crumbled; Boson made 31 and Goberdhan 18. Amit Mohabeer snared 3-9 and Sudarshana Moniram had 28. The competition is being
organized by Zorg Commemoration Committee and will conclude on Sunday. The committee would like to thank Dereck Gobin Agri Spares, Nandkishore Lumber Yard, Thakur Hardware, Builder’s Hardware, Vicky and Shelly Vegetables, Sankar livestock and Mr. and Mrs. George for their input.
Fruta Conquerors to host finals of I-Net U 13 Soccer Competition Approximately three months ago, on May 1st, organizers of the Fruta Conquerors Football Club (FCFC) had organized the I-Net Sponsored Under-13 Football Competition at their Tucville Ground venue. However, incessant rains during that time had forced the premature abortion of the tournament and the organiz-
Eight teams battle for top spot as 3rd annual foxy ladies women’s tournament commences The Lady Jags have only just qualified in the final four of the Caribbean Football Union leg of the 2016 Olympics Qualifiers and women’s football seems to be on the rise. The spirit of the game has been extended to the local scene and the Foxy Ladies Female Football Club (FLFFC) is gearing up for the 2015 edition of its Annual Women’s Football Tournament that gets underway this afternoon and concludes on Sunday September 13. All matches will be played at two venues, the Tucville Ground and the Guyana Defense Force Ground. Eight teams will comprise Groups A and B and will be
Ken George (left) and Natasha Boson
female footballers while providing an opportunity for them to showcase their ability. Further, the players will be able to improve their rankings while taking advantage of the opportunity to be seeded into the National Women’s Team (Lady Jags) in the future. The organizers also said that the FLFFC will collaborate with the GFF to promote similar tournaments. They also said that whereas in previous years the programme only facilitated school teams, they have decided to expand and incorporate teams from across the ten regions, a ploy that has been well received by other stakeholders.
ers had promised a resumption of activities at the earliest opportunity. They were then absorbed in arrangements towards the success of the just concluded 8th Annual Football Summer Camp which further stalled the resumption of the youth tournament. The Summer Camp concluded late last week and true to their promise the organizers are set to host the finals of the youth competition and activities are scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday August 29. When action gets started at 15:00hrs, Western Tigers will take on Renaissance FC in the third place playoff followed by the feature game
where Fruta Conquerors will oppose Santos FC in the finals. Ten teams participated in the tournament and tomorrow’s games represent the best four teams of the initial lineup battling for distinction. The tournament is sponsored by I-Net and Chief Executive Officer of Global Technology and I-Net, George Melville is the man that has unselfishly acquiesced to such chivalry. The winning team will cart off a beautiful trophy while the runners up receive medals. Further, each member of the winning unit will be awarded a computer course at the business place of the sponsor.
Guyana place 3rd in... From page 42 Amanda Haywood: 19-21, 18-21. Guyana 1 Trinidad and Tobago 2 Boys Singles: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Adrian Nicholson: 21-18, 21-14. Girls singles: Priyanna Ramdhani lost to Jada Renales: 18-21, 18-21. Boys Doubles: Jonathan Mangra and Tyrese Jeffery lost to Will Lee and Adrian Nicholson: 21-10, 21-11. The Countries taking part
in the Team Championships were the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Panama, Trinidad, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Guyana. Attention has turned to the CAREBACO Individual Championships which commenced yesterday and will see competition in the Under15, 17 and 19 categories in the following events, Girls Singles, Boys Singles, Girls Doubles, Boys Doubles and Mix Doubles.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
US-based Guyanese willing to help students strike balance Enterprise Primary School was the beneficiary of a goodwill gesture from US-based Guyanese Lloyd Lashley, who presented the school with a quantity of book bags containing school equipment and football yesterday, during a simple ceremony that was conducted, at the institution in Durban Backlands. Lashley, who migrated to the USA at the tender age of nine years, has been living abroad for the past thirty-two years. Speaking with the media, Lashley said that his original plan was to host an Under-13 tournament, but due to the hurdles he would have had to cross decided not to venture into that realm, but instead donate the gifts to the school. “My first choice was to host an U-13 tournament but after that fell through I decided to present Enterprise with the little gifts that I brought,” he told the media. Quizzed on the how the idea evolved, Lashley said
that very often players from Guyana would come to the USA to participate in the Caribbean Cup Competition and scouts from all over the country would be there, but sadly a lot of the very good players are unable to be drafted due to their academic deficiency. He said his aim is to strike a balance between an academic pursuit and onfield proficiency which according to him goes hand in hand when one is seeking a scholarship to attend colleges in the USA. “Very often a lot of our very good players are overlooked due to due to their lack of academic qualifications and this is why I’m here to help the students from an early age strike a balance between education and their sporting pursuits.” He praised to engage other stakeholders to advance the idea of ensuring that education is not neglected while a student is excelling on-field.
Fortune, Thomas among top entries for GMAA 5K Run
Cleveland Thomas
T
he Guyana Masters Athletics Association (GMAA) is set to stage its second 5K Keep Fit Road Run this Sunday at the National Park, commencing f r o m 1 6 : 0 0 h r s . According to a release from the Organisers, some of the country’s top distance runners have already confirmed participation in the event and among them
Alisha Fortune are Cleveland Thomas, Selwyn Gardener, Ian Archibald, Gary Fagundes, Dorway Logan, Curtis Archer, Joseph Jardine, Debidyal Harold and Larry Josiah in the male category, while Alisha Fortune, Cyrleen Phillips, Ebony Nelson and Carla Adams are among a long list of competitors expected to take to the starting line in the female division.
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US-based Guyanese Lloyd Lashley (left) poses with students who were outfitted with book bags and school equipment and a teacher (right) yesterday.
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Friday August 28, 2015
Albert’s unbeaten ton leads Enterprise to victory against team from T&T By Sean Devers Under a cloudless blue sky in sweltering heat at the Enterprise ground yesterday o p e n e r Vi v i a n A l b e r t reached the boundary 11 times and cleared it once as he carried his bat for an unbeaten 100-ball 117 to
spur the home side to a convincing 146-run win against the touring Oral Exports of Trinidad &Tobago. Opting to bat on a placid track and fast outfield, a small gathering watched as Enterprise amassed 269-4 from 30 overs despite two
wickets from off-spinner Rajiv Soomarie as the ‘Trini’ team struggled for control, conceding 35 wides. Soomarie returned to hit a fighting 32 and got support from Darrel Ramkhalawan (18) and guest player Guyana senior team batter Kavita Yadram, who scored
an undefeated 15 batting at number seven. Jordon Sarmkarran (2-2) and Parmanand Dindyal (214) were the most successful bowlers for the Guyanese. The right-handed Albert flayed the team from Carnival Country to all parts of the field, batting from start to finish whilst sharing in half-century stands with former Guyana Under-15 Captain and present U-17 batsman Bhaskar Yadram (21) with whom he put on 62 for the first wicket, 96 with Rohan Mangal (27) and 51 with First-Class player Zaheer Mohamed (28) for the fourth wicket. Yadram was the first to go when he missed an ambitious drive to Soomarie and was bowled ‘through the gate’ after facing 25 balls. Soomarie struck six runs later to leave Enterprise on 68-2 but an absolutely ragged fielding display failed to support the bowlers as Mangal tore into the hapless bowlers with a blistering 23-ball 27 before he was bowled at 164-3.
Vivian Albert launches into National U-17 leggie Tameshwar Motiram during his unbeaten 117.
Meanwhile, Albert was oozing confident as his innings progressed and although Soomarie and legspinner Ramkhalawan beat the bat on few occasions, Albert, who was dropped at slip off Ramkhalawan on 40, was forced to play second fiddle to Mohamed who
clobbered four fours and a six in a cameo 28 before he was taken at long-on off spinner Chandra Mohan at 215-4. Albert who got to his century from 81 balls, was joined by Jordon Sarmkarran who belted a quick-fire 33 (Continued on page 38)
Winners of Groups 1, 3 and 4 ready for Women’s Olympic Final Round
G
roups 1, 3 and 4 of the 2015 Caribbean Zone of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Olympic Qualifiers preliminary games have been completed with Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Guyana emerging as the top teams to compete in the Final Round set for October of this year. Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua & Barbuda, the Cayman Islands and St Lucia are the teams in Group 2 that will do battle for the last space left in the final Round from which three teams will advance to compete in the C O N C A C A F Wo m e n ’ s O l y m p i c
Tournament in 2016. During the preliminary games played in Group 1 Puerto Rico earned nine points from three games, Haiti six , Grenada three and Aruba nil. In Group 3 Jamaica gained six points from two games, Dominican Republic three and Dominica 0. Guyana and Cuba ended up with four points each in Group 4 but Guyana had a better goal average than Cuba hence they have advanced to the final round while St Kitts and Nevis never made it on the points table. The date for the staging of Group 2 will be announced shortly.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Commander Hicken 5/5 Softball Competition bowls off tomorrow
T
he Central Georgetown P o l i c e Yo u t h Group will host the Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken 5/5 Softball Cricket Competition tomorrow from 10am at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary with eight participating teams from the Division. Coordinator of the event, Colin Haynes, gave the details of the competition and indicated that the venture is a continued effort to f o rg e r elatio n s h ip s between the public and Guyana’s Police Force through the development of both youth and sports. The competition will feature eight teams from ‘A’ Division for a top prize of $50,000, which will go toward a community development project. Trophies will accompany the monetary prizes. The second place team gets $30,000 and $20,000 for the third place team. The Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, which is now under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education, sponsored the monetary prizes through the National Sports Commission. Haynes said that teams will comprise both male and females with a female mandated to open the batting, and appear within the top five batting order again. In addition, a female must bowl one over. “The teams were asked to have a balance in gender,” Haynes said, adding that the coaches will be a current or former national cricketer with media personalities functioning as mentors for the teams. National cricketers, Steven Jacobs, Robin Bacchus and Paul Wintz were all present at the launch yesterday. Jacobs said that it is an honour and privilege to be part of the initiative as a father and an ambassador for Guyana. He said they are ready to help the youths. Banks DIH Water Brand Manager, Errol Nelson indicated that the company is pleased to be part of the development of sports, “Especially with the Guyana
Police Force in forging relationships with the communities”. He urged all softball fans to come out and support the event and the bars that will be set up. Commander Hicken said that the initiative is all about developing youths within his Division and ensuring that they become ambassadors. He said the programme has been ongoing and he wants to ensure that the relationship continues within communities. “We have shortlisted about 140 something youth football players for development. We hope that we can continue this process towards them gaining national selection. We also recently crowned a Miss Albouystown and a billboard will be erected with her in the community to motivate others to become ambassadors for their communities,” Hicken highlighted. He said those are all initiatives aimed at impacting youths in a positive way so that they
Commander Clifton Hicken (seated) is surrounded by National Cricketers, Paul Wintz, Robin Bacchus and Steven Jacobs, along with some members of the media, Errol Nelson Banks DIH Water Brand Manager (on his left).
continue to develop while the Police build community
relationships and intelligence. Hicken believes
that the ongoing programme can positively impact the
image of the Police. (Edison Jefford)
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Friday August 28, 2015
CAREBACO U-19 Team Championships
Guyana place 3rd in 7 nation tournament
G
uyana ended third in the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Under-19 Team Championships which concluded on Wednesday after serving off on Monday last at Club Los Prados in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The young Guyanese defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 to take third in the Group Playoff. In the Boys Singles, Jonathan Mangra defeated Luis Perex 21-9, 21-12. The Girls Singles saw Priyanna Ramdhani going down to Genesis Valentin 17-21, 14-21. In the Boys Doubles: Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra combined to take care of business against Luis Perex and Joshua Soler 21-17, 21-13. In the deciding match,
the Mixed Doubles, the Randhani siblings, Narayan and Priyanna prevailed in a three setter turning back the challenge of Puerto Rico’s Joshua Soler and Genesis Valentina 21-10, 21-23, 21-12. In the other matches Guyana played they lost to Barbados 2-3 and Trinidad & Tobago, 1-2. Following are those results: Guyana 2 Barbados 3 Boys Singles: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Shae Martin: 21-11, 21-12. Girls Singles: Priyanna Ramdhani lost to Amanda Haywood: 10-21, 12-21. Mix Doubles: Jonathan Mangra and Priyanna Ramdhani lost to Shae Martin and (Continued on page 38)
Guyana’s Under-19 Badminton team that participated in the CAREBACO Championships. From right, Priyanna Ramdhani, Tyrese Jeffery, Gokarn Ramdhani (Coach), Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra.
Friday August 28, 2015
Kaieteur News
Participants and officials at the closing of the ECCB Academy yesterday, ECCB President Bissoondyal Singh is at right.
One-week ECCB Academy a success - says Singh By Sean Devers The 15th annual oneweek East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Academy concluded yesterday at the Lusignan ground with the closing ceremony and President of the Board Bissoondyal Singh said that sessions catered for not only cricketing development but life skills also while describing it as success. “All the officials of the ECCB worked tirelessly to organise this Academy and everyone who came here to give Lectures did so free of charge and I want you put into practice what you have learned here” Singh told the students. He also praised the work of the late ECCB executive, Samaroo Jailall who played a pivotal role in organising past Academies and was dearly missed this year. Catering for children between the ages of 12 and 17, the Academy produced 23 players to have represented Guyana at the youth level the ECCB Head outlined seven qualities of good leadership and told the participants that where ever they go they are Ambassadors of the Academy. Ministry of Education Department of Culture, Youth & Sports PE Instructor Seon Erskine, who represented the Director of Sports Christopher Jones, who attended the opening c e r e m o n y, t o l d t h e youngsters that not having
the right attitude can rob them of a place in the team despite how much talent they have. “Don’t waste this opportunity and don’t let anyone tell you that sports can’t take you anywhere and to focus all of your time on academics. Those people who say that don’t know the true benefits of sports. Don’t forsake your Education but try to be a balanced person by getting involved in sports” Erskine stressed. National Under-19 female pacer Amanda Persaud, Guyana under-17 leg-spinner Tameshwar Motiram and Robin ‘Manage’ Williams who opened the batting and kept w i c k e t i n G u y a n a ’s championship winning team which won their fourth under-15 title on home soil this year, were among the participants. Among the topics taught at the 2015 Academy were the history of West Indies cricket, the laws of cricket and umpiring, scoring and Road Safety. The teenagers were also given information on the use of drugs in sports, the importance of Education, L e a d e r s h i p a n d Sportsmanship, HIV and Teenage Sex, Food and Nutrition, Social Etiquette/Grooming and Discipline. After the speeches, the 25 participants were presented with their certificates to bring the curtains down on the Academy.
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Sprint sweep for brilliant Bolt in Beijing
Bolt jogged through the line beating his clenched fists against his chest as he defeated twice drugs cheat Gatlin for the second time.
Colts romp from behind to reach GABF Forbes Burnham Memorial Final - Pacesetters play Half Mile Bulls in other semi-final tomorrow night
Colts’ Centre, Shane Webster goes up for an uncontested floater in the paint Wednesday night in the first semi-final of the GABF Forbes Burnham Memorial Basketball Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
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